Thiruvananthapuram, April 23 (HS): The debate over the chief ministerial face in the Congress has resurfaced in Kerala after senior leader Ajay Tharayil made a subtle yet significant intervention through a Facebook post, despite the party high command’s directive against such public discussions.

In a post titled “My Dream Congress Chief Minister,” Tharayil did not name any individual but outlined the qualities he believes a leader should possess. He said the ideal candidate must have emerged through student and youth movements and should have actively participated in protests, faced police action, and even imprisonment. According to him, such experiences reflect a leader’s commitment to grassroots politics and public causes.

Tharayil also stressed that the leader should connect with people beyond social media, engage directly with the masses, and respect grassroots workers. Consistency in political positions and a strong, grounded approach were among the key traits he highlighted. “This is the Congress Chief Minister I dream of,” he wrote, hinting at his preference without explicitly naming anyone.

Though indirect, the post is being viewed as politically loaded. Tharayil is known to be close to K. C. Venugopal, and his remarks are being interpreted in the context of internal factional dynamics within the party.

The Congress high command had earlier warned leaders against publicly discussing the chief ministerial candidate after statements by K. Sudhakaran backing Venugopal and Muhammed Shiyas supporting V. D. Satheesan sparked controversy. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala is also seen as a contender.

Tharayil’s post is likely to intensify the leadership debate once again, even as the party attempts to maintain unity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar