MLAs favoured KC Venugopal, yet he was passed over for Kerala CM. Here's why

Ten days of intense deliberations, top-level huddles in Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi, fierce factional battles and intense lobbying within the party, the Congress finally announced its Chief Minister in Kerala -- VD Satheesan. The party high command chose the outgoing Leader of the Opposition over senior leaders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.

Venugopal reportedly enjoyed the backing of a majority of the newly elected Congress MLAs. Traditionally, the Congress has preferred leaders who command legislative support. But on Thursday, the party chose a different path. What tilted the balance in Satheesan’s favour over the two other contenders?

What ultimately prevailed was the Congress high command’s assessment of public mood, mass appeal, alliance dynamics and political optics ahead of future electoral battles.

The decision reflected a familiar pattern in Congress politics under Rahul Gandhi, favouring leaders perceived to have a stronger grassroots connect over those with organisational clout or proximity to the high command. Similar decisions were seen in Karnataka, where Siddaramaiah was chosen over DK Shivakumar, and in Rajasthan, where Ashok Gehlot was preferred over Sachin Pilot.

While MLAs reportedly backed Venugopal, public sentiment appeared firmly in favour of Satheesan. He was widely seen as the face of the Congress revival in Kerala and the leader most directly identified by voters with the opposition campaign against the Left government.

Within Congress circles, Venugopal was viewed as a formidable contender. A trusted Rahul Gandhi aide and one of the party’s most influential organisational leaders, he enjoyed the support of a section of MLAs and senior leaders. Many believed his loyalty to the Gandhi family and his years as AICC general secretary strengthened his claim to the top post.

However, the Congress leadership ultimately concluded that Satheesan had emerged as the party’s most recognisable mass leader in Kerala after steering the UDF through a strong electoral performance. While Venugopal may have won the internal numbers, Satheesan appeared to command the larger public mood — something the Congress leadership could not ignore.

SATHEESAN’S RISE AFTER 2021 DEFEAT

Following the party’s defeat in 2021, when the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front returned to power, breaking Kerala’s long-standing tradition of alternating governments, it was Satheesan who replaced Chennithala as Leader of the Opposition and led the Congress back to victory. His popularity, party leaders believe, was not built merely during the election campaign.

Satheesan was seen as the leader who consistently took on the Left government during several critical political moments in the state, at a time when Chennithala and Venugopal were perceived as less visible in Kerala’s frontline politics, if not largely absent.

CADRE SENTIMENT BECAME A KEY FACTOR

The Congress leadership was also mindful of the emotional investment cadres had made in Satheesan’s leadership.

In the days leading up to the announcement, posters reportedly surfaced in parts of Kerala warning that sidelining Satheesan could demoralise Congress workers. While leaders denied that such campaigns directly influenced the final decision, they acknowledged that cadre sentiment overwhelmingly favoured the Leader of the Opposition.

For the Congress leadership, particularly after years of criticism over delayed and disconnected decision-making, ignoring that sentiment could have carried political risks.

The celebrations that erupted across Kerala immediately after Satheesan’s elevation were viewed within the party as validation that the “right signal” had been sent to workers and supporters.

UDF ALLIES TILTED TOWARDS SATHEESAN

The stand taken by UDF allies also appears to have worked in Satheesan’s favour. Though allies publicly maintained that the decision on the Chief Minister rested with the Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League, the second-largest party in the UDF with 22 MLAs, openly backed Satheesan.

Other allies, while avoiding public statements, were also believed to favour his candidature.

MOVE BEYOND TRADITIONAL GROUP POLITICS

The Congress in Kerala has long been hamstrung by the traditional “A” and “I” group rivalries. By choosing Satheesan, who is not identified as a core member of either dominant faction, the national leadership also signalled an attempt to move beyond entrenched factional loyalties and project a new political direction.

The Congress also appeared conscious of the optics surrounding generational transition within its Kerala unit. Satheesan, who emerged as Leader of the Opposition after the UDF’s defeat in 2021, was credited within the party for rebuilding the organisation, sharpening the opposition narrative and energising younger workers. His elevation is being viewed as an attempt by the Congress leadership to project a refreshed image after a decade in opposition.

CONCERNS OVER ‘HIGH-COMMAND POLITICS’

Another major consideration may have been the need to avoid criticism over “high-command politics”. Installing Venugopal, a Delhi-based organisational heavyweight, despite Satheesan leading the opposition campaign on the ground could have triggered resentment among cadres and sections of the public. The leadership appeared to conclude that bypassing Satheesan after the electoral victory would send the wrong political message.

Another factor that reportedly worked against Venugopal was perception. Unlike Satheesan, who led the Congress-led opposition in Kerala for the past five years and spearheaded the campaign against the LDF government, Venugopal had largely functioned at the national level as AICC general secretary. He had also not contested the Assembly election, which became a significant political consideration during the final round of discussions.

MP STATUS AND BYPOLL CONCERNS

Venugopal is currently a sitting Member of Parliament. Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Congress high command had laid down a firm guideline that sitting MPs would not contest the polls. Appointing Venugopal as Chief Minister would have required him to resign his parliamentary seat, triggering a politically sensitive bypoll.

Bypassing its own rule could also have exposed the party to accusations of “power politics” and reinforced criticism of a “high-command culture”, undermining the democratic messaging the Congress sought to project during the campaign.

Within sections of the Congress leadership, there were concerns that appointing a leader who had not contested the polls could weaken the party’s political messaging after the UDF’s sweeping mandate.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CALCULATIONS

According to party insiders, discussions also turned to who could replace Venugopal as AICC general secretary if he shifted full-time to Kerala politics. However, no immediate consensus reportedly emerged within the party, particularly at a time when speculation has already begun over the Congress’s long-term leadership structure ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Some leaders believe Venugopal could eventually emerge as a contender for the Congress president’s post because of the Gandhi family’s trust in him.

It is to be noted that although Ramesh Chennithala was also in the race, the principal contest was largely between Satheesan and Venugopal. Chennithala neither enjoyed significant organisational backing nor commanded the same level of public support as the other two contenders. His principal claim rested on the argument that he was expected to become Chief Minister in 2021 had the Congress returned to power, along with the backing of certain caste organisations.

Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership weighed not only the internal arithmetic among MLAs, but also long-term political messaging, alliance chemistry and public sentiment before arriving at the final decision.

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