Mullappally Ramachandran
| Photo Credit: K. RAGESH
Senior Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran on Friday (August 28, 2026) urged the party leadership to complete the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) reshuffle without further delay, saying the party’s activities in Keralam had “remained stagnant” for nearly three months in the absence of a full-time State president.
Speaking to reporters in Kozhikode, Mr. Ramachandran said the KPCC requires a full-time president.
His remarks came against the backdrop of the current KPCC president, Sunny Joseph, also serving as the Electricity Minister.
“It has already been 101 days since the government assumed power. For nearly the past three months, the Congress party in Keralam has been almost completely stagnant. Therefore, a president is urgently required. What we need is a full-time president,” he told reporters.
Mr. Ramachandran said the party did not need an ad-hoc president and expressed confidence that AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who is in charge of the organisation, would take a decision soon.
Favours ‘one man, one post’ principle
He said “there are enough capable leaders” in the Congress to take up the post and that he favoured the principle of “one man, one post”.
“As far as possible, one man, one post – isn’t that what is right? As far as this party is concerned, there are plenty of qualified people. Shouldn’t we give them an opportunity?” he asked.
Asked about criticism that there was a lack of coordination between the Congress and the UDF government, Mr. Ramachandran said the government was functioning well, and there was “no logic” in blaming the party’s lack of a full-time president for such issues.
He praised the government for its performance during the Onam season and said it was moving ahead by implementing its promises in a time-bound manner.
On P.V. Anvar’s candidacy
On the debate within the Congress over fielding former MLA P.V. Anvar as an Independent candidate from Beypore in the 2026 Assembly election, which resulted in the UDF’s defeat there, Mr. Ramachandran declined to comment, saying the matter was a “closed chapter”.
“I have already clearly stated my opinion regarding that election. Beyond that, I have no opinion. I haven’t expressed any opinion regarding that anywhere else either,” he said.
Asked whether issues that Mr. Anvar had raised against the previous LDF government had helped the UDF in the election, Mr. Ramachandran rejected the suggestion and credited party workers and leaders for the victory.
“Don’t the thousands of poor workers and common people who worked day and night achieve anything? Doesn’t the Puthuyuga Yatra conducted by (now Chief Minister) V.D. Satheesan across all districts in the State have any importance? Do the services rendered by other leaders have no significance whatsoever?” he asked.
On the recent controversy involving the police entering a mosque wearing boots in Madakkara, Vadakara, Mr. Ramachandran said urgent action had already been taken and that the official concerned had been transferred, as far as he understood.
Asked about the delay in appointments to boards and corporations, he said there was no dispute and such reorganisations had never been completed immediately after a government assumed office.
He added that serious discussions on the appointments were taking place at various levels and a decision would be taken soon.
Published – August 28, 2026 03:44 pm IST
