KPCC chief race heats up even before Kerala CM is named
Synopsis
Kerala's Congress has barely secured a UDF victory when the next power struggle has already begun. With KPCC President Sunny Joseph tipped for a Cabinet berth, veteran MP Kodikunnil Suresh and three other Lok Sabha members are lobbying hard for the party presidency — even before the Chief Minister's name is finalised.
Key Takeaways
KPCC President Sunny Joseph is reportedly set to join the new UDF Cabinet , triggering a race for his party post.
Veteran Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh 's recent meeting with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge has fuelled speculation about his candidacy.
Benny Behanan , Anto Antony , and Shafi Parambil are also among the names in contention for the KPCC presidency.
The high command must balance caste, community, factional, and seniority considerations in filling both the CM and KPCC posts.
In 2001 , the CM and KPCC president posts were filled simultaneously as part of a power-sharing deal between A.K.
Antony and Karunakaran — a precedent that may repeat.
Even before Kerala's next Chief Minister is officially announced, the Indian National Congress (INC) has opened a parallel front — the race for the post of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President. The contest is gathering momentum in Delhi corridors and Kerala power centres, with multiple aspirants already positioning themselves for the organisational top job.
Why the Post Is Set to Fall Vacant
The trigger is the growing expectation that incumbent KPCC President Sunny Joseph is likely to be inducted into the new United Democratic Front (UDF) Cabinet. Should that happen, the party presidency will fall vacant — and in Kerala Congress politics, no vacancy remains unclaimed for long. Workers who celebrated the UDF victory just days ago are now watching senior leaders sprint between Kerala House, airport lounges, and Delhi drawing rooms in pursuit of the next available chair.
Key Names in the Running
At the centre of the early lobbying is veteran Lok Sabha member Kodikunnil Suresh, whose recent meeting with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge has triggered intense speculation. Officially described as a routine political meeting, few within the party believe anything in Delhi is truly routine when a top organisational post is about to open up. Alongside Kodikunnil Suresh, the names of Benny Behanan, Anto Antony, and Shafi Parambil — all Lok Sabha members — are also doing the rounds, each carrying distinct social equations, factional arithmetic, and loyal support camps.
The Balancing Act for the High Command
For the Congress high command, the challenge is turning into a delicate exercise. The calculations now involve not just seniority and organisational ability, but caste balance, minority representation, youth appeal, and factional peacekeeping. If the Chief Minister's post goes to one community or faction, the KPCC presidency may have to compensate another — a pattern deeply embedded in Kerala Congress culture.
Notably, history offers a precedent. In 2001, the state capital witnessed the swearing-in of A.K. Antony as Chief Minister, and within minutes, K. Muraleedharan took over as state party president, replacing veteran Congress leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai — all as part of a power-sharing arrangement between Antony and Karunakaran. The two chairs moved together then, and there is every indication they will do so again.
Stability Concerns Within the Party
What is adding to unease within the Congress is a growing perception that the party, despite returning to power, is struggling to project a sense of stability. The optics of leaders jostling for position even before governance begins are not lost on party workers or observers. The Congress high command now faces the unenviable task of solving two puzzles simultaneously — deciding who governs Kerala, and deciding who controls the party machinery once the victory drums fade.
Point of View
The two chairs will move together — but the real question is whether the choices made will strengthen the party organisation or simply freeze a factional balance that could unravel mid-term.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the KPCC president post likely to fall vacant in Kerala?
The KPCC presidency is expected to fall vacant because incumbent KPCC President Sunny Joseph is reportedly set to be inducted into the new UDF Cabinet. Once he takes a ministerial role, the party's organisational post would need to be filled.
Who are the leading candidates for the KPCC president post?
Veteran Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh is considered a frontrunner after his recent meeting with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge. Benny Behanan, Anto Antony, and Shafi Parambil — all Lok Sabha members — are also being discussed as potential candidates.
Why is the KPCC president appointment politically significant?
The KPCC president controls the Congress party machinery in Kerala and is a key power centre. The appointment must balance caste, community, factional, and seniority considerations, especially since it is typically linked to the Chief Minister's appointment as part of broader power-sharing deals.
What historical precedent exists for simultaneous CM and KPCC president changes in Kerala?
In 2001, A.K. Antony was sworn in as Chief Minister and K. Muraleedharan took over as KPCC president within minutes, replacing Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, as part of a power-sharing arrangement between Antony and Karunakaran. This precedent is seen as a likely template for the current transition.
What concerns has the KPCC race raised within the Congress?
There is a growing perception within the party that the Congress is struggling to project stability despite returning to power. The visible scramble for positions before governance has even begun has unsettled party workers and raised questions about the high command's ability to manage its Kerala unit cohesively.
