The prolonged delay by the Congress leadership in deciding Kerala’s next Chief Minister is causing tension within the UDF. Both alliance partners and factional groups are increasing pressure on the party high command as the suspense enters its second week post the Assembly election results.
A joint meeting planned between leaders aligned with Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, and former state unit chief K. Sudhakaran in Kannur was suddenly postponed after news of the gathering leaked to the media. This move, seen as a show of unified political strength amid the leadership struggle, attracted significant attention within Congress circles.
Local Congress leaders associated with both factions had started gathering at Sudhakaran’s residence before the abrupt decision to delay the discussions.
Leaders, while publicly framing it as a personal interaction, could not evade the political implications of the proposed meeting once reports linked it to the escalating chief ministerial contest. Criticism is emerging from within the UDF, with the Indian Union Muslim League’s Malappuram district General Secretary P. Abdul Hameed openly chastising the Congress leadership for the delay, cautioning that the uncertainty could have severe political repercussions.
