Congress Leaders Unite to End Factional Street Battles in Kerala Over CM Issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Congress leadership firmly opposing rallies, processions, and poster-banner battles among workers from different factions, Chief Minster hopefuls K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satheeshan jointly called for an immediate end to such activities in Kerala.

AICC in-charge Deepadas Munshi said the decision on the Chief Minister would be taken in a couple of days, and the workers should refrain from holding processions. Such activities had damaged the party’s reputation among the public.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, the three urged party workers to avoid demonstrations, processions, and putting up banners or flex boards, warning that such actions not only harm ordinary Congress members but also fuel perceptions of deep factionalism within the party. Responding to their appeal, workers began taking down posters, banners, and flex boards across the state, including outside the PCC headquarters at Indira Bhavan here. The situation had turned particularly ugly on Friday, with supporters tearing down posters and banners, dismantling flex boards, and even throwing black oil on portraits.

The leaders, emphasising that the party is large and the people are paramount, unanimously called for an end to street fights and directed that all banners be removed today.

During a meeting with Kerala leaders, both Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi strongly objected to the street protests. They instructed all camps to stop such activities, which they said disrespected the massive mandate given to the UDF by the people of Kerala.

“There is nothing wrong with liking leaders, but it should not become a way to insult others,” said Satheeshan. Venugopal noted that these activities had tarnished the party’s image in Kerala, while Ramesh Chennithala shared similar views, urging workers to stop such actions immediately.