Internal rifts within Kerala’s Youth Congress are intensifying as the party gears up for the Palakkad by-election, with tensions between state leadership and Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen grabbing headlines. The friction was further highlighted by Chandy Oommen’s conspicuous absence during Youth Congress President Rahul Mamkoottathil's visit to the tomb of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at St George Orthodox Church in Puthuppally.
On Thursday, Rahul, accompanied by senior Congress leaders K C Joseph, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Tomy Kallani, and P C Vishnunath, visited the tomb seeking blessings before commencing his campaign for the upcoming by-election. However, Chandy Oommen, the late Oommen Chandy's son, was noticeably absent. Oommen stated that he had prior commitments in Delhi related to his constituency, which conflicted with the rescheduled visit.
Originally, Rahul’s visit was planned for October 19, but it was advanced by a day. Chandy claimed the last-minute change conflicted with his travel plans. "I had no intention of missing the visit, but the scheduling conflict made it unavoidable," he explained.
Despite these explanations, rumors of an internal divide have continued to swirl. Insiders say that Rahul postponed his original visit by a day in anticipation of Chandy Oommen's participation, but after reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with the timing, Oommen did not attend. Sources suggest that the tension between the two leaders dates back to Rahul’s election as Youth Congress president in November 2023, when Chandy’s influence within the Youth Congress began to diminish.
Adding to the tension, Chandy Oommen was relieved of his role in the Youth Congress’s national outreach cell in July, allegedly following a report submitted by Rahul to the national leadership. While both leaders downplayed the controversy, insiders confirm that there has been ongoing friction between the two since last year.
Rahul Mamkoottathil dismissed speculation about the conflict, calling it baseless. "These reports are unfortunate. Chandy and I have been in constant communication regarding the election. These rumors are misleading," he told reporters.
The internal discord within the Youth Congress comes at a critical time for the United Democratic Front (UDF) as it faces the Palakkad by-election. The situation has sparked concerns that the unresolved tensions could weaken the party's unity and hinder its election campaign.
