Tharoor’s Social Media Move Adds Fuel to Congress Power Struggle in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Controversies and Shashi Tharoor often go hand in hand. After his widely debated praise for Narendra Modi, Tharoor now seems to be making a calculated move toward cementing his role in Kerala politics. If elections were to be declared tomorrow, sources close to him suggest he wouldn’t hesitate to resign from his Lok Sabha seat and project himself as the Congress party’s saviour in the state,possibly even as its chief ministerial candidate.

With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, Tharoor has dropped what many are calling a political bomb inside the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). On social media platform X, Tharoor shared a post by E D Mathew, who in turn had reposted an article from Moneycontrol citing an opinion poll predicting a regime change in Kerala,with Tharoor listed as the most suitable leader to lead it.

No one is expected to question the authenticity of the poll, of course. The platform publishing it, owned by Reliance, is seen to be sympathetic to Tharoor, who has long been an advocate for multinational corporations and billionaire interests under the banner of liberalism.

The question of who will be Congress’s chief ministerial face in Kerala has been simmering for years, with names like V D Satheesan, K Sudhakaran, Ramesh Chennithala, and K C Venugopal often locked in a quiet power struggle. But it was the rise of K Sudhakaran as a dominant figure in the party's election strategy that reportedly set off alarm bells in certain camps.

K Sudhakaran and V D Satheeshan

In what is being seen as a strategic move to sideline him, Sudhakaran was removed from the KPCC president post and replaced by Sunny Joseph. According to Sudhakaran himself, this resignation came only after assurances from K C Venugopal that he would be given a seat to contest in the Assembly elections, a ministerial berth if the party wins, and a place on the AICC Working Committee. He was also reportedly promised that his recommended candidate would be made the KPCC chief.

However, it is now evident that to prevent Sudhakaran’s re-entry into Kerala’s political mainstream, Venugopal may advise the high command to impose a rule barring sitting MPs from contesting in Assembly elections. Such a move would effectively block not only Sudhakaran, but also other potential aspirants from the Lok Sabha.

If Sudhakaran is allowed to contest, it could open the door for others like Adoor Prakash and Kodikunnil Suresh to stake their claim. The party is already grappling with how to accommodate senior leaders like Ramesh Chennithala and K Muraleedharan. The return of Sudhakaran to state politics could further intensify internal competition.

Ramesh Chennithala

Earlier in January, Ramesh Chennithala publicly stated that only the Congress high command has the authority to decide on the chief ministerial candidate, a clear jab at V D Satheesan and others positioning themselves for the top post.

As internal power plays intensify, Shashi Tharoor’s growing visibility, coupled with the strategic sidelining of rivals, signals a turbulent and high-stakes run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections for the Congress in Kerala.