Congress Leadership Meets for Over Three Hours, Fails to Break Kerala CM Impasse

The Congress high command failed to break the deadlock over its Chief Ministerial candidate for Kerala after a more than three-hour meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, May 9, 2026, involving party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and three key contenders—K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satheesan—alongside KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik. The discussions, held both collectively and individually, ended without a resolution, with the party stating the final decision will be made in due course.Deepa Dasmunsi, AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, told reporters the central leadership has until May 23 to finalize the candidate, urging party workers to withdraw public displays—such as banners and flex boards—supporting individual leaders. Senior Kerala Congress leaders echoed the appeal, warning that such public campaigns damage party unity and discipline. Workers began removing some materials, though new ones supporting alternate candidates emerged simultaneously.Sources within the party said the meeting was marked by strong assertions from each contender: Venugopal cited majority support among Congress MLAs, Satheesan emphasized his role in the election campaign, and Chennithala underscored his seniority. The high command will not hold further individual consultations and will base its decision on factional claims, feedback from Congress MLAs, and input from United Democratic Front allies. Tensions flared earlier in the week between Congress’s student wing KSU and IUML’s MSF over comments on the CM selection, exposing intra-UDF friction.Kharge and Gandhi expressed concern over the public infighting, which included rallies and aggressive propaganda, calling it damaging to the party’s image. The high command has directed state leaders to enforce discipline, warning against any actions that undermine party decorum. The final decision on Kerala’s Chief Ministerial candidate is expected by May 23.