The Indian National Congress (INC) in Kerala is embroiled in an intensifying internal battle over its chief ministerial face, with rival camps backing opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala taking their feud to the streets ahead of vote counting scheduled for Monday at 8 am IST. The public mudslinging, factional banner wars, and growing ally discomfort are unfolding despite a direct clampdown order from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Banner War on the Streets

In Kochi, a provocative flex banner erected opposite the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) office sharply attacked Satheesan, alleging that his ambition to become Chief Minister by sidelining veterans through PR campaigns would not materialise. The banner, displayed under the name 'Congress Family', openly endorsed Chennithala. This came days after pro-Satheesan banners surfaced in Aluva, signalling a tit-for-tat escalation between the two factions.

The street-level confrontation follows earlier social media campaigns by rival groups that degenerated into personal attacks, prompting the high command to impose a clampdown on public leadership debates.

AICC Directive Falls Short

AICC General Secretary Deepa Das Munshi has reportedly conveyed to state leaders that any open contest for the top post must be avoided ahead of results. However, the directive appears to have had limited effect. Advertisements backing Chennithala in sections of the print media and the continued display of factional banners indicate that the battle is far from contained. The K.C. Venugopal faction, too, is understood to be actively positioning itself, adding a third power centre to an already fractured internal landscape.

Ally Discomfort Grows

The infighting has triggered visible unease among United Democratic Front (UDF) allies. Kerala Congress (Joseph) has made it clear it will not take sides. Its leader and Kottayam MP Francis George stated that the chief ministerial decision is an internal matter of the Congress and that allies should not interfere, adding that all stakeholders would ultimately have to abide by the high command's decision.

Notably, reports suggesting that a section within the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is inclined towards Satheesan have further aggravated rival camps within the Congress, deepening fault lines at a moment when unity is most needed.

What Is at Stake

With vote counting beginning on Monday morning, Congress faces the challenge of containing its internal divisions even before the electoral verdict is out. Multiple power centres jostling for influence simultaneously raises serious questions about leadership stability and the party's capacity to present a cohesive front to both voters and allies. As observers note, this is not the first time the Kerala Congress has been consumed by a CM face dispute — but the public nature of the current row makes it particularly damaging at a critical political moment. How the high command manages the fallout in the hours immediately after counting begins will be closely watched.