Kerala polls: Buzz over Congress’ CM candidate continues regardless of management’s efforts to rein it in

The intra-party hypothesis over who could be the Congress’ subsequent potential Chief Minister if the United Democratic Front (UDF) wins the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala retains popping up like a jack-in-the-box regardless of the very best efforts of the celebration’s management to tamp down such “schismatic” conjecturing.

P.J. Kurien, veteran Congress chief and former Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) pushed the organisational contestations centred on the Congress’ Chief Ministerial selection, at instances muted and at instances loud, into the general public area.

At a UDF election conference in Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Mr. Kurien mentioned the UDF would win on May 4, the ballot outcomes day. Pointing at senior celebration chief Ramesh Chennithala, who shared the dias with him, Mr. Kurien mentioned, “I have no doubt that Mr. Chennithala will be the Chief Minister. He (Mr. Chennithala) might protest, saying that the party will decide”, he said. 

Varghese Mammen, a Kerala Congress chief contesting because the UDF candidate from Thiruvalla, sat subsequent to Mr. Chennithala on the suitable facet. Glancing at them, Mr. Kurien quipped: “Mr. Mammen will sit on the right of Mr. Chennithala on the Treasury Bench in the Kerala Legislative Assembly after the polls.” 

Mr. Kurien’s assertion despatched the political hearsay mill into overdrive. His averment went viral on typical and social media, with some channels claiming that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) senior management, together with Ok. Sudhakaran, amongst others, backed Mr. Chennithala over Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and All India Congress Committee (AICC) normal secretary Ok. C. Venugopal, MP, to the excessive workplace.

Mr. Chennithala later made gentle of Mr. Kurien’s assertion. He echoed the AICC’s line that the celebration’s nationwide High Command would take the ultimate name in session with the members of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP). “The Congress and the UDF are marching in lockstep to end Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule. The aim of winning the elections gains primacy over everything else,” he mentioned.

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Ok.C. Joseph warns towards conjectures

Senior Congress chief Ok.C. Joseph mentioned senior leaders ought to “desist from broadcasting self-defeating conjectures” in regards to the celebration’s potential Chief Minister.

In a Facebook submit, Mr. Joseph mentioned the celebration was locked in a “live-or-die” electoral battle. “Tens of thousands of UDF workers are braving hostile circumstances, including the sweltering summer, to win the fight for the party and not to capture the Chief Minister’s post for any individual. Leaders should respect their sentiment and sacrifice”, he mentioned. 

Mr. Joseph mentioned he was not providing any counsel, however merely reminding leaders that they understand how the Congress decides the celebration’s Chief Ministers. 

Satheesan sidesteps debate

Mr. Satheesan sought to sidestep the controversy. He advised reporters in Palakkad that the Opposition was preventing the polls as “Team UDF”.

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He famous, considerably cryptically, that the Congress had “a galaxy of leaders” able to executing any political activity given to them by the celebration.