KOTTAYAM: The Kerala Congress remains a unique phenomenon in the landscape of Kerala politics. Defying the political logic that "division leads to decline," this movement has long been characterized as "the party that grows as it splits." As it marks six decades, here is an analysis of its birth, evolution, and current standing.

1. The Birth: Rising from Congress Infighting
The Kerala Congress was born on October 9, 1964, at the Thirunakkara Maidan in Kottayam. The catalyst was the intense factionalism within the Indian National Congress following the untimely demise of then-Home Minister P.T. Chacko. In a historic move, 15 MLAs led by K.M. George withdrew their support for the R. Sankar ministry and broke away from the parent party. The party flag was hoisted for the first time in the presence of Mannathu Padmanabhan, the legendary General Secretary of the NSS.

2. Growth and the Cycle of Splits
The party proved its mettle in its debut 1965 Assembly elections, winning 23 seats. Strong backing from the rubber farmers of Central Kerala and the Christian community transformed the party into a kingmaker. However, power struggles led to frequent fragmentation over the years:

1977: R. Balakrishna Pillai formed the Kerala Congress (B).
1979: A dispute between K.M. Mani and P.J. Joseph led to a major split, resulting in Kerala Congress (M) and Kerala Congress (J).

Subsequently, leaders like T.M. Jacob, P.C. Thomas, and P.C. George also branched out to form their own factions.

3. Current Factions and Front Alliances

Today, the Kerala Congress exists as five primary factions distributed across the two major political fronts in the state:

Left Democratic Front (LDF):

Kerala Congress (M): Led by Jose K. Mani, this is currently a major constituent of the LDF.
Kerala Congress (B): Led by K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
Democratic Kerala Congress: Led by K.C. Joseph.

United Democratic Front (UDF):

Kerala Congress: Led by P.J. Joseph, this group remains the primary Kerala Congress faction within the UDF.
Kerala Congress (Jacob): Led by Anoop Jacob, this faction continues as a steady ally of the UDF.

 Whether they switch fronts or attempt unification, the consensus among supporters is clear: "Please, no more splits." Most people who follow the party believe it no longer possesses the resilience to survive another division.