Ten days after the Congress-led UDF’s significant victory in Kerala, the alliance faces a deadlock over selecting the Chief Minister. This deadlock has led to public anger, with posters appearing near the Wayanad DCC office targeting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The posters express opposition to the potential appointment of K.C. Venugopal as Kerala’s next Chief Minister, reflecting growing resistance within the party.
The posters, written in English, criticize Rahul and Priyanka for allegedly trying to impose Venugopal on Kerala despite public sentiment against him. One poster warns that Kerala will not forgive them, while another suggests that Wayanad could face a fate similar to Amethi, referencing Rahul Gandhi’s defeat in Uttar Pradesh. This situation poses a direct challenge to the authority of the Gandhi siblings over Congress affairs in Kerala.
The posters also mock Venugopal as merely Rahul Gandhi’s ‘bag bearer’ and caution that Rahul and Priyanka may not be welcomed in Wayanad if public opinion is disregarded. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the posters, their emergence indicates a shift from internal party disputes to open political rebellion. The posters convey a clear message that the people of Kerala do not support Venugopal, despite reported backing from most Congress MLAs.
Despite Venugopal’s backing from the majority of Congress MLAs, public sentiment in Kerala appears to be against his candidature. This contradiction has put the party’s high command in a difficult position, leading to prolonged consultations without a final decision. Supporters of V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala argue that Kerala’s political dynamics cannot be solely determined by legislative numbers. The delay in announcing the Chief Minister has transformed what should have been a smooth power transition into a situation marked by indecision and internal discord within the Congress party.
