Talks of leadership dissonance put KC(M) on backfoot after rally momentum

As the central Kerala leg of the Vikasana Munnetta Jatha of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Jose K. Mani, concluded in Kochi on Saturday, the event appeared to have inadvertently exposed fault lines within the Kerala Congress (M) at the leadership level.

What began as a politically successful outreach campaign soon turned into a moment of discomfort for the party, following conflicting public statements by Mr. Mani and Irrigation Minister Roshy Augustine regarding the former’s candidature in Pala. The mixed messaging not only dented the leadership’s carefully cultivated image of cohesion but also triggered confusion among cadres, fuelling speculation about an internal divide at a time when the party is preparing for the next Assembly elections.

Until the controversy surfaced, the rally remained largely progressed without friction. The turning point came in Adimaly, where Mr. Augustine dramatically took the microphone during a press interaction to announce Mr. Mani’s candidature in Pala. Mr. Mani attempted damage control by dismissing the episode as a reflection of Mr. Augustine’s trademark exuberance. However, the Minister’s decision to reiterate his position the following day ensured that the issue did not fade away.

Within party circles, the prevailing view is that Mr. Augustine’s intervention placed the KC(M) in an avoidable predicament at a time when it was gaining political momentum alongside the LDF campaign. Leaders point out that the reception accorded to both the party and its chairman throughout the rally had been enthusiastic, particularly in Kottayam district and Pala, where large turnouts of LDF supporters suggested that the KC(M) had succeeded in reconnecting with grassroots workers. “The Minister could have avoided such remarks at this juncture. It has handed detractors a convenient weapon,” said a senior leader.

Predictably, opponents, both within and outside the political spectrum, seized upon the episode, amplifying it across social media. At the heart of the controversy lies Mr. Augustine’s assertive political style, which in this instance appeared to overshadow Mr. Mani’s more measured approach.

The rumour mill has since gone into overdrive. Allegations range from claims that Mr. Augustine is attempting to politically upstage Mr. Mani—possibly with tacit backing from sections of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership—to the speculation that Mr. Mani himself could be contemplating a return to the United Democratic Front. The party, however, has collectively dismissed these theories as baseless.

Yet the episode has revived a deeper unease within the organisation. Many cadres privately acknowledge that such indiscipline would have been inconceivable during the era of K. M. Mani. “The KC(M) has never functioned with dual power centres at any point in its history,” observed another senior leader.

With tensions simmering beneath the surface, the controversy is expected to figure prominently in the party’s upcoming leadership meeting.