The Youth Congress in Kerala has a new state president. O.J. Janeesh, who has been serving as the State Vice President, has been elected to the top post. The position had fallen vacant following the resignation of MLA Rahul Mamkootathil after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Hearty Congratulations to the newly appointed State President Adv.O.J Janeesh & Working President Shri. Binu Chulliyil of Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress.
— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) October 13, 2025
We wish you good luck for future endeavours. pic.twitter.com/EVal4X2BC9
Binu Chulliyil has been appointed as the Working President, while Abin Varkey and K.M. Abhijith have been named National Secretaries of the Youth Congress.
ALSO READ: Who will succeed Rahul Mamkootathil as Youth Congress president in Kerala?
Notably, Janeesh’s elevation appears to have been aided by strong backing from MP Shafi Parambil, as well as favourable community equations. His predecessor, Rahul Mankootathil, was also seen as a nominee of Shafi—himself a former Youth Congress president who continues to wield considerable influence over the organisation’s affairs. Though Janish is aligned with the Shafi camp, he reportedly enjoys the confidence of AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal as well.
The ‘I’ group, led by veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala, had pushed for Abin Varkey to be given the post. However, with both the KPCC president and KSU president currently hailing from the Christian community, party insiders suggest that concerns about community balance may have affected Varkey’s chances, leading to his accommodation in the national leadership instead.
Former KSU president K.M. Abhijith was another strong contender for the Youth Congress top job. His name was strongly backed by veteran MP M.K. Raghavan, who had even approached the national leadership seeking his appointment. Abhijith too has now been inducted into the national leadership, a move seen as a balancing act within the organisation.
In July, the Youth Congress had witnessed internal tensions, with allegations that Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mankootathil sidelined Abhijith in national-level appointments. Binu Chulliyil, one of the four leaders from Kerala nominated to the national body at the time, will now have a more powerful position, with him being made state working president. Notably, this is the first time a working president has been appointed for Youth Congress in the state.
With the latest appointments, both Janeesh and Chulliyil are expected to emerge as key power centres within the Youth Congress in Kerala.
But through these leaders, it is clear that the senior leaders are also planning for their ambitious moves as Kerala is fast approaching assembly polls.
