Following a potential power shift in Kerala, the Congress party is embroiled in an intense internal struggle over the Chief Ministerial post, with supporters of V.D. Satheesan taking to the streets across various districts like Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur to demand his leadership. Protesters, brandishing slogans like “Let the one who led the battle rule the land,” are drawing historical parallels to V.S. Achuthanandan’s 2006 rise to power, where public pressure forced the party leadership to name him Chief Minister despite initial exclusion. While Satheesan’s vision for a modernized Kerala has gained traction on social media, he faces internal competition from supporters of K.C. Venugopal, leading to a visible divide within the party and even friction with allies like the Muslim League regarding external interference in leadership choices. As AICC observers consult with state leaders and MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram, the high command faces the difficult task of balancing grassroots enthusiasm with party discipline and ally consensus to finalize the next leader of the state.
