Tharoor Emerges Top CM Choice in Kerala Survey
VoteVibe poll shows Tharoor leading with 28.3% support; Congress leadership maintains silence
GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 9th July: Amid simmering tensions with the Congress high command, senior party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has received a significant political boost ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. A recent pre-poll survey conducted by Mumbai-based VoteVibe has named Tharoor the most preferred candidate for the Chief Minister’s post in the state.
Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, secured 28.3% voter support in the survey, ahead of any other United Democratic Front (UDF) or Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders. He promptly shared the survey results on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday. The post, originally shared by a supporter, was tagged to Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan.
“@ShashiTharoor emerges as the best bet for chief ministerial choice for the 2026 Kerala polls for a faction-ridden UDF alliance,” read the post.
While the Congress leadership in Kerala has maintained silence over the development, newly appointed KPCC president Sunny Joseph downplayed the survey, stating, “In Congress, leadership decisions are made after elections. There is a proper process for it.”
Tharoor’s uneasy rapport with the party leadership has been evident since he contested the Congress presidential election against Mallikarjun Kharge. His name was also omitted from the list of leaders recommended for the Centre’s Operation Sindoor outreach initiative. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi later invited him to lead a delegation abroad, marking a notable shift.
Tharoor, upon return, acknowledged internal differences but said he was open to dialogue “if asked.”
The survey also highlighted a leadership vacuum in both alliances. While 27.1% of voters remained undecided on UDF leadership, the ruling LDF faced an even deeper crisis. Former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja led preferences within LDF with 24.2% support, while incumbent CM Pinarayi Vijayan garnered only 17.5%.
