Congress Leadership Tussle in Kerala Erupts into Public Rallies and Poster Wars

The internal power struggle within the Indian National Congress in Kerala has intensified, spilling onto the streets through competing rallies and aggressive poster campaigns. Supporters of three key leaders—V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala—are publicly vying for the Chief Minister position ahead of the All India Congress Committee's final decision. In Thiruvananthapuram, marches supporting Satheesan turned contentious when workers tore down posters promoting Venugopal. Similar factional displays occurred in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, defying high commands against public discord. Influential community organizations like the Nair Service Society and SNDP Yogam, along with prominent cultural figures such as writer T. Padmanabhan and actor Siddique, have openly endorsed different candidates, further polarizing the atmosphere. Amidst the chaos, KPCC president Sunny Joseph canceled a scheduled press conference, while V.D. Satheesan urged cadres to cease group demonstrations and public declarations of loyalty to maintain party unity during this critical phase of government formation.