Rising Tensions Within Kerala's Congress Party as LoP V.D. Satheesan Faces Scrutiny

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 14 (NationPress) Internal divisions within the Congress party in Kerala have emerged repeatedly, and this time, Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan is under scrutiny amidst shifting alliances and public criticism.

For many years, the Congress party in Kerala has been defined by a covert conflict among its senior leaders. Prominent figures such as K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony, Oommen Chandy, Vayalar Ravi, and Ramesh Chennithala once dominated the party structure. While the rivalry between Karunakaran and Antony was prominent until the early 2000s, leadership eventually transitioned to Chandy and Chennithala. Following Chandy’s health decline in 2021, leadership responsibilities shifted to Chennithala, current State Congress chief K. Sudhakaran, and Satheesan.

Satheesan’s rise as LoP, despite Chennithala commanding majority support within the Congress legislature party, represented a significant shift in 2021. The party high command’s choice of Satheesan left Chennithala feeling embarrassed.

Adding to the complexity, AICC General Secretary (Organization) K.C. Venugopal has emerged as a central figure, garnering support from various secondary and tertiary leaders in Kerala. This further diminished Chennithala’s influence, who, leveraging political skills honed under Karunakaran, aligned himself with Sudhakaran, a leader whose relationship with Satheesan has been strained.

In recent months, tensions have escalated, with K. Muraleedharan, son of Karunakaran and a popular leader himself, openly expressing discontent with Satheesan. Muraleedharan remarked, “There are issues in the state unit of the party, and efforts are needed to sort them out.”

The first public challenge came from Chandy Oommen, son of the late Oommen Chandy and a first-time legislator. Oommen claimed he was sidelined during the recent assembly by-election campaign, which Satheesan directed, and was not given any responsibilities. "I refrained from commenting earlier, and I do not wish to elaborate even now. I was in Palakkad for only one day. The leadership must take everyone together. It is their duty," he stated a few days back.

In response, prominent leaders supported Sudhakaran, offering him a clean slate amidst speculations about his declining health. Chennithala also subtly critiqued Satheesan, reminiscing about his strategy during the Maharashtra elections, “When I was in charge, I ensured all legislators were unified during the campaign.”

Media analysts have pointed out Satheesan’s precarious standing. One critic, who wished to remain anonymous, commented, “In the Congress party, those with mass support rise to leadership. Among the current top leaders, excluding Satheesan, the others possess grassroots connections and public backing. Recent remarks against Satheesan indicate dissatisfaction with his leadership style. The upcoming months will be crucial for him.”

Unaffected by the criticism, Satheesan has kept his poise, asserting, “Whatever the issue, things will be discussed and debated in the party.”

Satheesan, a legislator since 2001, has had a fraught relationship with Oommen Chandy, stemming from being excluded from Chandy’s 2011 cabinet. His subsequent comments during Chandy’s challenging final years only exacerbated their tensions.

This escalating discord has set the stage for intense political maneuvering within the Congress party in Kerala, as Satheesan navigates a tempest of internal challenges.