Kerala Congress faction protests Unniyadan’s exclusion from Cabinet

A dispute within the Kerala Congress led by P.J. Joseph has intensified over the decision not to include Irinjalakuda MLA Thomas Unniyadan in the United Democratic Front Cabinet. Supporters of Unniyadan, the party’s vice-chairman, have organised meetings across Kerala to mark his 25 years as an MLA.

At a recent event in Thrissur, speakers questioned why the four-time legislator had not been given a ministerial berth. All India Congress Committee secretary T.N. Prathapan, who inaugurated the function, described Unniyadan as the party’s senior-most leader after P.J.

Joseph and also questioned his exclusion from the Cabinet. Unniyadan said his supporters were disappointed and acknowledged that he was hurt by the decision. He said he had represented Irinjalakuda for four terms and had worked to regain the constituency from the Communists during the 2026 election.

However, he maintained that he had not submitted a formal complaint to the party leadership. He said the meetings were celebrations organised by supporters and that he was participating in them rather than pursuing a formal grievance. The Kerala Congress won seven of the eight Assembly seats it contested, and Unniyadan returned from Irinjalakuda after winning the 2026 election.

Party district president C.V. Kuriakose sought to play down the dispute, saying the party had not ignored Unniyadan and had allowed him to contest the election for a seventh time. The differences later became a physical confrontation in Irinjalakuda during a party leadership meeting.

Supporters of Unniyadan and a rival group exchanged heated words before the dispute escalated. A tea kettle was reportedly thrown, causing burns to some party workers and a police officer. The incident has made the disagreement more visible, although Unniyadan continues to deny lodging a formal complaint over the Cabinet decision.