The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the Indian National Congress for delaying the appointment of a Chief Minister for Kerala on Monday [1].

This political impasse occurs after a historic victory for the Congress in the state. The inability to quickly name a leader suggests deep internal divisions that could weaken the new government's stability before it even takes office.

BJP leaders described the situation as a power struggle characterized by uncertainty. Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP spokesperson, said the state of the Congress camp is "utter confusion" [2]. The BJP argues that factional feuding has prevented the national leadership from making a decisive choice.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP noted that the party is divided over the role of Congress leader KC Venugopal. Chandrasekhar said, "Even the BJP appears split over whether Congress leader KC Venugopal should remain in Delhi or move to Kerala" [3].

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in on the leadership vacuum. Modi said that uncertainty and the fear of factional feuding hampered the Congress national leadership from naming the party’s Chief Minister in Kerala with certainty [4].

Within the Congress, leaders including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal have been involved in efforts to resolve the dispute. The impasse was formally reported on May 11, 2026 [1], as the party attempted to balance competing interests among its regional, and national wings.

The BJP has used this delay to frame the Congress as incapable of disciplined governance—even when holding a winning mandate. The public nature of the dispute has turned a routine government formation process into a broader critique of the Congress party's internal management.

“"Utter confusion."”

The delay in appointing a Chief Minister reveals a critical tension between the Congress party's national leadership and its regional factions in Kerala. By publicly highlighting this struggle, the BJP is attempting to erode the Congress's momentum following its election win and portray the party as structurally unstable.