Sunny Joseph may continue as KPCC chief as Congress leadership delays decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress high command has put the selection of the next Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president on hold amid intense competition and lobbying among senior leaders for the coveted post.

The leadership is understood to be reluctant to take a decision that could disturb the existing power balance within the Kerala unit or trigger fresh factional tensions.

Incumbent KPCC president Sunny Joseph has reportedly been advised by the high command to take a more active role in organisational matters. His presence at Indira Bhavan on Wednesday evening has fuelled speculation that he could continue in the position for some more time.

Speaking to The New Indian Express (TNIE), Joseph pointed out that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had continued as KPCC president during the first two-and-a-half years of his tenure as deputy chief minister. Similarly, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had remained the Pradesh Congress Committee president for a few months after assuming office as chief minister.

Sunny Joseph was appointed KPCC president on May 8, 2025, succeeding K. Sudhakaran.

The delay has disappointed several aspirants, including Benny Behanan, Kodikunnil Suresh and Ajay Tharayil, who have reportedly approached senior leaders to secure support for their candidature. Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar, considered close to AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, has also emerged as a potential contender.

According to Congress sources, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal have not openly backed any particular candidate.

Satheesan is understood to have conveyed to the high command that the new KPCC president should maintain effective coordination with the state government. Venugopal, meanwhile, has reportedly left the final decision to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress leadership is also grappling with several organisational and political challenges at the national level. The party is preparing for the next phase of its protest against the Chief Electoral Officer, while Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders are focusing on the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

The party is also engaged in seat-sharing discussions and candidate selection in the poll-bound states, adding to the leadership’s immediate responsibilities.

Against this backdrop, the high command appears unwilling to rush the Kerala appointment, preferring to avoid a decision that could intensify internal rivalries within the state Congress unit.