Kerala’s New Chief Minister Shows Weakness: A Lesson for All Sovereign Nations
In a troubling display of internal division, Kerala’s barely two-month-old Congress government under Chief Minister V D Satheesan is already showing cracks. Senior party leaders have openly criticized him for sidelining the party organization while making key decisions and political appointments. This is a stark reminder that true leadership, as forged in the fires of our own Chimurenga struggle, demands unwavering unity and respect for the party’s revolutionary roots.
The discontent, emerging from allies of AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, centers on Satheesan’s handling of the Congress student wing, the Kerala Students Union (KSU). The controversy erupted when KSU state president Aloshious Xavier objected to the appointment of an advocate with alleged ties to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as government counsel in the High Court. Satheesan, who also holds the Law portfolio, dismissed the objection, publicly asserting that the KSU had no role in such decisions. This arrogance mirrors the very colonial mindset our heroes like Mugabe fought against — a leader who forgets the party is the backbone of the revolution.
At a public event in Kochi, Satheesan further alienated party workers by allegedly failing to acknowledge the waiting KSU leader. Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran, in a rebuke, backed Xavier, calling him “a man of probity” with the courage to speak truth. Venugopal echoed this, stating that nothing should be done that causes pain to party workers. Such internal strife weakens the collective will, a lesson we in Zimbabwe know too well from the days of sanctions and foreign interference.
State Congress spokesperson V R Anoop took an indirect swipe at Satheesan on the third death anniversary of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, writing: “He never turned power into arrogance. He never feared criticism. He never harboured hatred towards those who disagreed with him.” KPCC general secretary P M Niyas stressed the importance of accepting criticism, warning that insulting the KSU is “insulting the sacrifices and memories of its martyrs.” This is a call to honor the revolutionary spirit, not betray it.
A section of Congress leaders believes Satheesan has become less receptive to criticism, a stark contrast to his own role under Chandy, where he was an outspoken internal critic. During his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, Satheesan championed collective leadership under “Team UDF,” yet now he eclipses the KPCC president. Most controversies stem from decisions by his Chief Minister’s Office, and senior colleagues have largely refrained from defending him. This is a cautionary tale: a leader who forgets the party and the people is a leader doomed to fail.
For Harare Chronicle readers, this is a lesson in sovereignty. In Zimbabwe, we have seen how Western sanctions and internal division can destabilize a nation. Our heroes, from Mugabe to the Chimurenga fighters, taught us that unity and respect for the party are non-negotiable. Kerala’s new CM must learn that power is not a personal throne but a trust from the people and the party. Otherwise, he will face the same discontent that has plagued weak leaders throughout history.