Political Storm Erupts Over Venugopal's Rising Influence in Kerala
The political landscape in Kerala has been electrified by escalating tensions surrounding KC Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of organisation, whose increasing involvement in state Congress affairs has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling CPI(M) while fueling internal party speculation about the chief minister's position.
The controversy reached new heights on Friday when senior CPI(M) leader and Education Minister V Sivankutty launched a blistering attack, labeling Venugopal as a "Trojan horse" of the BJP allegedly working to "destroy" the Congress from within. This accusation comes despite both parties being constituents of the Opposition INDIA alliance at the national level.
Education and Labor Policies Spark Political Clash
The immediate trigger for Sivankutty's vehement criticism emerged from Venugopal's recent allegations that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government was implementing BJP policies in Kerala. The AICC general secretary had specifically highlighted the education department's decision to roll out the PM SHRI project in Kerala schools, which has since been put on hold following internal LDF opposition.
Venugopal further accused the Vijayan government of attempting to implement the new labor codes introduced by the BJP-led Central government. Interestingly, Sivankutty also serves as the labor department minister, which had framed and notified regulations related to these labor codes back in 2021. This positions the minister at the center of both controversies raised by the Congress leader.
The timing of these exchanges is particularly significant given that Left parties and unions have been strongly opposing these labor codes, despite their recent notification more than five years after parliamentary approval.
Growing Influence and Internal Party Dynamics
At 62 years old, Venugopal has emerged as the most influential Congress leader at the national level from Kerala while maintaining an active presence in state politics. His growing clout has created unease among detractors within the faction-ridden party unit, especially as organizational equations undergo realignment under his influence as AICC general secretary (organisation) since 2019.
This consolidation of power has sparked intense speculation within Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) circles that Venugopal is positioning himself as a major contender for the chief minister's post should the party-led UDF secure victory in the crucial April 2026 Assembly elections. He is perceived to be jostling for the state's top position alongside established party veterans like V D Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, and Ramesh Chennithala.
Venugopal's active campaigning during the ongoing preparations for December local body elections, considered the semi-finals for the Assembly polls, has further fueled these speculations. The leader has been addressing party conventions at the panchayat level across the state, strengthening his grassroots connect.
Historical Context and Political Counterattacks
The CPI(M)'s targeting of Venugopal isn't a recent phenomenon. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Venugopal decided to contest from Alappuzha constituency, the Left party had alleged this was an attempt to "strengthen" the BJP in the Upper House. Their contention was that his election to Lok Sabha would necessitate resignation from Rajya Sabha, potentially increasing BJP's tally.
However, these allegations failed to dampen Venugopal's electoral prospects as he registered an impressive victory, defeating the CPI(M) candidate by over 63,000 votes in his Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.
More recently, following the INDIA bloc's disappointing performance in Bihar Assembly elections, the Kerala CPI(M) directly blamed Venugopal. State CPI(M) secretary M V Govindan claimed that instead of strengthening the anti-BJP alliance in Bihar, Venugopal was focused on "consolidating" his position within the Congress in Kerala.
Congress leaders have vehemently defended Venugopal against these attacks. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president and MLA P C Vishnunadh countered the CPI(M)'s criticism by highlighting Venugopal's electoral track record. "After he became the AICC general secretary (organisation), Congress has won Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh," Vishnunadh stated, questioning why the CPI(M) was "restless" about a democratically elected Lok Sabha member's political activities.
Addressing the speculation about his heightened state-level involvement, Venugopal recently clarified, "I will be active in Kerala, but that will not be with an eye on any chair." However, his consistent engagement with state issues and organizational matters continues to generate buzz about his political ambitions as Kerala heads toward another significant electoral battle.
