K Sudhakaran, the former chief of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and current MP from Kannur, has publicly endorsed KC Venugopal, the party's general secretary, as a potential leader for the Congress in Kerala. In a Facebook post, Sudhakaran highlighted Venugopal's organizational skills and likened him to past party leaders such as K Karunakaran and Oommen Chandy. This endorsement, however, has sparked controversy within the party, as it appears to contradict directives from the central leadership to refrain from discussing the chief ministerial candidate before the election results are announced. Venugopal responded by urging party members to wait for the results on May 4, emphasizing that leadership decisions will be made collectively. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and veteran leader KC Joseph expressed concerns about premature discussions regarding the chief minister's post, reinforcing the need for adherence to established party protocols. Should the United Democratic Front (UDF) win the assembly elections, the leading contenders for the chief minister's position will include Sudhakaran, Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala.