No KC and RC; High Command recognized ‘crowd-puller’ Satheesan; reasons for choosing him as CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After securing a massive mandate five years ago, the second LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan came to power in Kerala. The UDF, then led by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, suffered a severe defeat. It was a period when even Congress workers had begun writing the political obituary of the Congress and the UDF in Kerala. It was then the Congress leadership decided to replace Chennithala with V D Satheesan as the opposition leader. A move that eventually marked the beginning of a generational shift within the party. Though both the ‘A’ and ‘I’ groups in the Congress strongly backed Chennithala, the AICC’ insistence on transferring leadership to the second line has now, five years later, proven to be a politically accurate decision.

Many within the Congress initially doubted whether Satheesan could effectively challenge Pinarayi Vijayan, nicknamed iratta chankan (man with double hearts) who had an overwhelming majority. However, what followed was a calculated political campaign in which Satheesan united both critics and supporters, employing aggressive and innovative strategies against the ruling front. The political battle led by Satheesan eventually culminated in a decisive setback for the LDF, reshaping Kerala’s political landscape.

When Satheesan became opposition leader in 2021, many believed he would continue the Congress tradition of maintaining close equations with influential caste and community leaders. In Kerala’s political environment, where social organizations often influence public opinion, such a strategy had long been considered unavoidable. However, Satheesan chose a different route. He deliberately avoided seeking the blessings of community leaders, despite repeated warnings from within the party that such a stand could politically hurt him. Even when several community leaders publicly criticized him, Satheesan refused to alter his position. His response remained consistent: in a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinion.

This response eventually evolved into a new political style for the Congress itself. The UDF’s sweeping victory is now being viewed as validation of Satheesan’s political line. Despite strong campaigns against him by certain community leaders, the election results demonstrated that many of them no longer held decisive influence even within their own communities.

Party was rebuilt
After the LDF returned to power in 2021, both the Congress and the UDF in Kerala were struggling with low morale and intense factionalism. Many believed the Congress was nearing political irrelevance. Satheesan openly argued that the party could not survive unless factional politics ended. He directly challenged the dominance of powerful group structures led by senior leaders. Though generally known for his calm personality, Satheesan occasionally adopted a confrontational stance on organizational matters while carefully avoiding alignment with any particular faction.

During the tenure of K Sudhakaran as KPCC president, Satheesan was entrusted with the responsibility of handling by-elections. Success in those elections helped establish him as a sharp political strategist in the eyes of both the public and the Congress leadership. Later, with Sunny Joseph replacing Sudhakaran in the KPCC, the UDF’s political centre of gravity increasingly shifted towards Satheesan.

Team UDF
Satheesan also succeeded in introducing the idea of Team UDF to a Congress traditionally divided by factional rivalries. This message of unity played a major role in the alliance’ victories in the Lok Sabha, local body and assembly elections. The campaign helped create a perception among both UDF workers and the public that the alliance was moving in one direction with collective purpose. Allies such as the Indian Union Muslim League and various Kerala Congress factions rallied firmly behind Satheesan without visible resistance.

Real Left
One of Satheesan’s major political achievements was presenting the Congress as the real Left alternative in Kerala. That positioning even found acceptance among sections of traditional Left supporters, contributing to setbacks for the CPM in strongholds like Kannur.

Satheesan also transformed the style of opposition politics. Instead of limiting attacks on the government, he focused on studying issues affecting different sectors of Kerala society. He consulted experts and developed alternative policy approaches on unemployment, healthcare, the economy and development.

These interventions significantly boosted his popularity and helped create the image of an opposition willing to listen to public concerns rather than merely attack the government. Inside the assembly too, Satheesan emerged as a strong presence. Even when critics and social media campaigns branded him inconsistent or weak, he continued along the political path he had carved for himself.

A series of electoral victories, including by-elections, further strengthened his political confidence. His statement that he would go into “political exile” if the UDF failed to return to power reflected that confidence. Over time, Satheesan evolved into a leader seen as capable of reading public sentiment and attracting crowds, a rare crowd-puller within the Congress. For many in the party, that ultimately became the decisive factor that elevated him to the chief minister’s post over leaders like K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.