Congress leadership meets over Kerala situation, addresses all challenges

At a crucial meeting of the Congress leadership in Delhi on Friday, all Kerala leaders reportedly felt the need for introspection and the desire for correction prevailed as they discussed the organisational situation in Kerala.

The three-hour meeting, attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress general-secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, and around 30 state leaders, saw most express discontent over recent controversies within the Kerala unit. Although no individuals were named, the meeting provided a platform to address the party’s challenges.

In his comments after the meeting, Venugopal emphasised the message of unity that was conveyed and well-received by all attendees. He noted that everyone was confident about working together to secure the party's success in upcoming elections.

The meeting was held in the wake of conflicting voices from within the party, including a controversy surrounding a podcast interview by Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram. Despite the tensions, the leaders agreed to move forward united, drawing a line under recent ‘unfortunate developments’.

Kharge and Gandhi asked the state leadership to refrain from putting out public statements, media briefings, or social media posts that could demoralise party workers. Gandhi praised the Kerala leaders' competence but suggested that the party should focus on capitalising on the anti-incumbency sentiment against the Left government. He also assured that the high command would continue to monitor the situation closely.

A source present at the meeting mentioned that the need for collective leadership was felt by all. Despite speculation, there was no discussion about a leadership change in Kerala. Concerns previously raised regarding Kerala Pradesh Congress president K. Sudhakaran’s health were not brought up at the meeting.

Sudhakaran, it was reported, informed the central leadership about his efforts to strengthen the party at the grassroots level and stated that there were no differences between him and the state leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan. Both leaders reportedly criticised a section of the media for creating a narrative of division between them.

Gandhi also reportedly asked leaders to avoid declaring themselves as potential chief ministers, stressing that the party’s priority should be returning to power for the people, rather than internal rivalries. Kharge, for his part, requested the leaders to refrain from praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Kerala government, warning that such comments could send the wrong message to party workers.

At a post-meeting media briefing, Deepa Dasmunshi, AICC general-secretary in charge of Kerala, stressed that the party must not engage in actions that could disrespect the people of Kerala. She made it clear that the controversies surrounding the state's leadership were detrimental to the party’s unity and undermined the collective goal of winning the upcoming elections.

Dasmunshi further reiterated that unity, discipline, and coordination were paramount if the party was to succeed in the forthcoming local body and assembly elections. She warned that any personal comments or actions would lead to strong disciplinary measures.

According to sources, during the meeting, AICC secretary and Kundra MLA P.C. Vishnunadh was the first to address the issue of disunity within the party. He highlighted that the perception of discord was the primary challenge facing the organisation. Other leaders, including Tharoor, Ramesh Chennithala, Satheesan, and Sudhakaran voiced similar concerns towards the end of the meeting.

Tharoor, in particular, sought to clarify the confusion created by his recent article and interview, asserting his commitment to securing the Congress' victory in the 2026 state elections. Satheesan, in turn, emphasised that he was not seeking the chief minister’s post and was simply fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to him by the party. He also dismissed the media narrative suggesting internal strife over the CM's chair.

Satheesan reportedly stated that the Congress-led UDF had a strong chance of winning up to 100 of the 140 seats in the state assembly, with Congress alone capable of securing 65 seats, despite currently holding just 21. Chennithala, meanwhile, raised concerns about a secret pact between the CPI(M) and the BJP, and urged the party to devise a strategy to address this.

Both Kharge and Gandhi emphasised the importance of maintaining party discipline and putting personal interests aside. Kharge, in particular, made it clear that while party workers were on the front lines fighting the BJP, it was inappropriate for any leader to publicly praise PM Modi. Gandhi, for his part, underscored the need for the Kerala leadership to present a united front to the people, citing the impact of the Kerala Congress (M) leaving the UDF ahead of the 2021 elections.

Several leaders questioned Tharoor’s public comments, with Gandhi expressing his emotional connection to the state and its people. Venugopal reiterated that no leader had the right to make out-of-line statements in the media.

Asked later whether the reprimands were aimed at Tharoor, Dasmunshi responded, "Why are you singling out Tharoor? Many others have made personal comments. This message is for everyone." She also ruled out any changes in the state leadership, confirming that Sudhakaran would continue as KPCC president.