## Summary of The Hindu Article: “Majority of Congress MLAs from Malabar rally behind Venugopal”
The article details a significant show of support for Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), specifically from a majority of the party’s MLAs representing the Malabar region.
A meeting convened by Venugopal in Kozhikode saw the participation of 16 out of 20 Congress MLAs from the Malabar region, signaling strong backing for his potential leadership role in the state. This gathering is interpreted as a countermove to attempts by a section within the KPCC to project a collective leadership model, effectively diminishing the importance of a single leader.
The MLAs who attended reportedly expressed their desire for Venugopal to be considered as the KPCC president ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. They believe his organizational skills and national-level experience are crucial for revitalizing the party and leading it to victory.
Key figures present included prominent MLAs like Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Shafi Parambil. Notably, some MLAs who were previously considered potential contenders for the KPCC president position also participated, demonstrating a willingness to align with Venugopal.
The article highlights a division within the KPCC regarding the leadership structure. While some advocate for a collective leadership, the Malabar MLAs’ move clearly indicates a preference for a strong, identifiable leader in Venugopal.
Sources suggest this support is a response to perceived attempts to marginalize Venugopal and a desire to avoid a repeat of the 2016 and 2021 election results, where the Congress-led UDF failed to secure a win. The MLAs believe a decisive leadership is necessary to address internal issues and formulate a winning strategy.
The article also mentions that the High Command will ultimately decide on the KPCC president, but the strong show of support from the Malabar MLAs significantly strengthens Venugopal’s position and increases his chances of being appointed to the role. The meeting is viewed as a clear message to the High Command regarding the preferences of a substantial section of the party in Kerala.
