KOCHI: It was a moment charged with symbolism at the DCC office in Ernakulam. After the news conference on the UDF's resounding win in Nilambur, V D Satheesan was on a call. Congress MP Hibi Eden waited for Satheesan to end the call, walked across the table, pulled him into a hug, and parked a kiss on his cheek. The message was loud and clear: the Congress has a new centre of gravity, and his name is V D Satheesan.
Nilambur was more than just a bypoll — it was a battleground that decided the future direction of the Congress in Kerala. The win didn’t just flip a seat; it shifted the internal dynamics within the party. Satheesan, who took bold, even risky, calls during the campaign, is now seen by many as the man best poised to lead the United Democratic Front (UDF) into the 2026 Assembly elections.
Satheesan’s leadership has been marked by clarity, speed, and confidence. Gone are the days of endless dithering and last-minute candidate announcements. Under his watch, the Congress has transformed its approach. “Within 24 hours of the election announcement, we had a candidate. The party hit the ground running and put the CPM on the defensive from day one,” said Congress leader Raju Nair. “If we had lost, Satheesan would’ve been the fall guy. But with this victory, his position is unshakeable — for now.”
Another Congress leader noted how Satheesan filled a vacuum left by an inactive KPCC. “The organisational structure was shattered. He stepped in — not just as Leader of the Opposition but also as the de facto face of the party’s grassroots machinery. That’s not easy. He held the rank and file together.”
One of the boldest calls Satheesan made was refusing to accommodate P V Anvar into the UDF fold unless he publicly withdrew his controversial remarks against Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath. That decision, fraught with risk, sent out a strong signal: the current Congress leadership won’t bend to pressure — not even from long-time allies. The Indian Union Muslim League, though initially miffed, eventually aligned with the decision. The risk paid off.
Satheesan’s track record is also solid on the ground. After his first electoral defeat in 1996, he remained in his constituency, closely studying how the Left managed its voter base. Since then, he has won five consecutive Assembly elections from Paravur — a constituency with significant Left presence, including among toddy tappers and Ezhava communities. “He’s a master of micro-management during elections,” a party insider noted. “His understanding of the ground-level machinery is unmatched.”
From Puthuppally to Thrikkakara, from Palakkad to Nilambur, the UDF has steadily increased its vote margins under his leadership. Except in CPM fortress Chelakkara, Satheesan has turned every bypoll into a moment of momentum. “He knows when to strike, how to mobilise, and where to draw the battle lines,” said another Congress leader.
But not everyone is comfortable with the direction Satheesan is taking. Gopakumar Mukundan, a seasoned political observer with Left leanings, flagged concerns about the secular fabric of the state. “Satheesan’s attempt to whitewash Jamaat-e-Islami and give them a clean certificate will have long-term consequences,” he warned. “Yes, it may bring tactical gains in Malabar. But what happens in central and southern Kerala? You risk alienating Christian and moderate Hindu voters.”
According to Gopakumar, UDF's campaign narrative in Nilambur centered solely on ‘Pinarayism’— a loosely defined term — without any serious critique of policies, development, or governance. “If Satheesan is being projected as the undisputed leader, then we deserve to know his exact position on aligning with groups like Jamaat-e-Islami. This ambiguity is dangerous in a state like Kerala, which has always prided itself on a unique secular identity.”
He further pointed out that while Pinarayi Vijayan had a direct connection with the Muslim community through the Left’s outreach, the Congress under Satheesan is treading a fine line. “Aligning with Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI for short-term electoral gains is playing with fire. It may win you Malabar, but lose you the Centre. It’s a bad trade-off.”
Meanwhile, internal leadership tussles within Congress remain. Shashi Tharoor, once a favourite among the youth and middle-class voters, has lost his appeal within the party after his recent overtures toward the Modi government. Ramesh Chennithala, who was denied the CM post twice in favour of Oommen Chandy, is also waiting in the wings. But with the Congress High Command unlikely to open a fresh succession battle unless a crisis emerges, Satheesan is clearly ahead in the race — for now.
At his post-win press conference, Satheesan kept the spotlight on the collective, to project an image as a team player. “The victory in Nilambur belongs to Team UDF. The voters of Nilambur have spoken on behalf of all of Kerala. They’ve judged this government in the people’s court.”
He further added: “Nilambur has given us the fuel to drive forward to victory in 2026.”