K. C. Venugopal leads Kerala CM race as Rahul Gandhi’s close aide may shift back to state politics.

K. C. Venugopal Emerges as Strong CM Contender

Senior Congress leader K. C. Venugopal is being seen as one of the top contenders for the Kerala Chief Minister post. Known as a close associate of Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal has played an important role in both state and national politics over the years.

Political Journey

Venugopal started his political career in Kerala and won multiple Assembly elections from Alappuzha. He later served as Kerala’s Tourism Minister before moving to national politics. He also represented Alappuzha in the Lok Sabha and held key responsibilities within the Congress organisation.

Strong Position in Congress

Within the party, Venugopal is considered an influential strategist and organisational leader. He has been actively involved in parliamentary matters and party coordination, which strengthened his position in the Congress leadership.

Kerala CM Race

Reports suggest Venugopal has strong support among party leaders in Kerala. If selected for the Chief Minister post, he would need to contest and win a bypoll, as he did not participate in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.