With UDF Convenor Adoor Prakash meeting AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Monday, the simmering rift in the Congress state unit has reached the High Command’s doorstep.

Prakash reportedly had a 30-minute meeting with Kharge, during which he repeated his complaint about Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s style of functioning. “I have given the complaint where it needed to be given. There’s no gag on me speaking to the media,” Prakash told reporters after meeting the AICC leadership.

The internal issues in Congress came to light last week when Prakash held a press conference at KPCC headquarters, Indira Bhavan, launching a scathing attack on the Chief Minister. He alleged that major decisions, including key government appointments, were being made without consulting the UDF leadership. “I’m finding out about such decisions only through the media,” he said, opening a Pandora’s box.

The immediate trigger for his outburst was the appointment of Muslim League leader Dr M.K. Muneer as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission and Forward Bloc’s G. Devarajan as the state government’s special representative in Delhi. The decision on both posts, which carry Cabinet rank, was allegedly made without consulting the UDF leadership.

Additionally, Satheesan, who is also the Chairman of the UDF, has been accused of not convening meetings of the front leadership.

While K.C. Venugopal downplayed the rift, stating that Congress is a democratic party where leaders can express their views, he cautioned the leaders to raise issues within party forums. The controversy comes at a time when the AICC is looking for a new PCC president, as the incumbent Sunny Joseph, recently sworn in as minister, will have to step down from the post.

Many party leaders caution that the people of the state, who ended the decade-long Pinarayi rule in April this year, have high expectations from the new government. Since coming to power, the UDF has made several major decisions, including free travel for women on KSRTC ordinary buses, increased honorarium for ASHA workers, establishment of a dedicated department for the elderly, launch of Operation Toofan, an anti-narcotics drive, and its much-publicized Mission Samudra, which aims to leverage Kerala’s coastline for maritime growth.

However, of the five Indira Guarantees, the hike in welfare pensions, financial aid for college-going girls, health insurance coverage, and interest-free loans for setting up ventures remain only on paper.

Meanwhile, the differences between the leaders have spilled over to social media, with supporters targeting each other. Mahila Congress President and MP Jebi Mather has filed a complaint with the cyber police against the highly offensive attacks directed at her online. Ever since she supported Adoor Prakash’s view calling for more cohesion between the government and UDF, a section of people has targeted her on social media. “The cultural Kerala will hang its head in shame to see such posts on social media. I have demanded action against those responsible,” she told reporters.

The Congress High Command is well aware of Kerala’s history of factional feuds. As a result, they have taken the developments seriously and are keen to resolve the crisis before it escalates out of proportion.