Kerala Elections: Factional Feuds Inside Party As Exit Polls Predict Clear Majority For Congress-UDF

Added: 2026-04-30

[00:00:00]On though to Kerala where even though most exit polls are predicting a majority for the Congress led UDF there is a factional feud inside the Congress party continues to be a headache on the complaint of KPCC president that is the Kerala Pradesh Congress president.

[00:00:18]The police have registered a case against a few Congress workers who circulated a letter which was allegedly written uh by the president of the KPCC and uh the letter was written to Maliki asking not to feel K Sudhakaran in the assembly elections.

[00:00:38]So within Congress in Kerala there is a war. Let me go across to Shanka. Shanka what's going on? What is going on and why are why are they why are they fighting? Is there a problem? Why do they not like Shankar Sudhakaran?

[00:00:51]>> No the uh even before the assembly polls uh like you know when the the local body elections was held in the last uh last year 2025 December or November and uh and the the it was a pointer to the assembly polls and most of the uh surveys predicted even the last exit exit poll predict predicted an upper hand for the UDF in Kerala. Soon uh the the the followers the supporters of the leaders in Kerala has a backing has started backing behind four leaders for the chief minister's post like you know in Kerala uh the the feud happening uh behind uh uh Vidi Sadishan opposition leader senior contest leader Kes Vopal Romeshala and Case Dagaran. It was at that time uh these three leaders like Casey Vinopal and Shinala and PD Sadishan allegedly played a game by sending a letter to Maligar Maligarin G demanding not to field K Sudagar and a senior contest leader in he's a veteran in in the Contress party in the from the Cano district not to contest him from in the assembly polls he was a sitting MP and by writing such a letter the followers of K Sudhagaran alleged that it was a deliberate attempt to suppress him and to avoid him making claims for the chief minister post once UDF comes to power. So the UDF the case sudag by not fielding him for the assembly polls he has been completely from making the claims of chief chief minister's post and now the the battle and and a letter which was allegedly written by KPCC president Joseph is being circulated on social media stating that it was a game which was played by the KPCC president on behalf of other Congress leaders to avoid case dagaran from coming into the prey for the chief minister's post. So but KPCC president claimed that he had not written any such letter to k and also filed a complaint against the the people who posted this letter on social media. When this uh police probe is taking place on one side, there has been a growing feud is taking place in surrounding this Romesh Shanala, Kesi Bendopal and Vidi Sadishan.

[00:03:18]Uh so even before even before the assembly polls in Kerala senior some of some among the senior congress leaders such as BJ Kuran and others recommended Romesh Chanala for the chief minister post and soon ACC central leadership directed the Congress leaders in Kerala not to make such comments openly that would affect the confidence of the party confidence of the UDF in raising the polls but such open keep on coming Shanka. Shanka, one second. I have a Shawan also with me. Shawan has the letter.

[00:03:56]>> Shan, there has been a factional feud and you know they don't stand they can't stand each other. I mean there is Shashita Rur, there is Quesi Vin Gopal, there is Sudakaran, there is Romesh Chanala, they just can't stand each other. So what did what did this letter say and what is the what is the confusion in Kerala?

[00:04:13]Well, in fact, just to add one more name in the list that you have just read out that is Vir Satishan being the other person. In fact, a survey is now being touted by the Congress party and insiders from Vidi Satishan's camp have been floating this survey which basically indicates that Vid Satish is the more acceptable face of the Congress party. Someone who's led the party in the last few years taking on Vijan. Now just you know an example of the kind of classical you know factionalism within the the Congress party. Now this letter is dated 15th of March 2026 and it has been addressed. I'll ask my camera person to come a little closer and give you a closer look of this particular letter. You'll have to take it out and I'll just take you through this letter.

[00:05:00]I'm not too sure whether you can see this Niranjan. Now this letter dated 15th of March signed by Sunonny Joseph who happens to be the president of Kerala Pradesh Congress committee and he's talking about the candidacy of K Sudhakran. He's a member of the the parliament from Cano and was proposed to be the candidate from Kadur. In fact, here you have Sunonny Joseph, the president saying that his contributions to the party highly valued, but the current political situation suggest that his chances of success in the assembly segment may just be limited. And additionally, there are broader organizational challenges in relocating sitting members of the parliament to assembly contest in Kerala which may impact both parliamentary and assembly level strategies. That's point number one. Here you have the president of the Kerala Congress committee basically proposing the name of advocate to moan.

[00:05:58]He's the former mayor of Cano and he they say that he is a a strong and viable candidate for the Canador assembly constituency. Now this perhaps shows the kind of divisions that do exist within the Kerala Congress right now. multiple factions as Shankr was pointing out.