I am not a sanyasi: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala

18-Sep-2026

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Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said he has not given up his ambition of becoming chief minister, while insisting that his immediate responsibility is to maintain law and order and give the people of the state a peaceful life.

Speaking to Rajdeep Sardesai at the India on September 18 Roundtable Kerala, Chennithala was asked whether he had accepted that VD Satheesan, his junior in the Congress, was now the Chief Minister despite Chennithala himself having held the Home portfolio in the Oommen Chandy government.

Chennithala said political power could change hands and that several of his juniors had gone on to become chief ministers.

“I never go for power or positions. Power may come or may not come. But I am an ardent Congress worker. Loyal to the family and the party. I work for the party,” he said.

He cited the examples of Mamata Banerjee, Ashok Chavan, Kiran Kumar Reddy and Bhupesh Baghel, saying they had all been his juniors at different stages.

“Power will come, power will go,” he said.

Asked directly whether he had given up his chief ministerial dream, Chennithala gave a candid response.

“As a Home Minister, it is my duty to give a peaceful life to the people of Kerala. And the law and order situation has to be taken into consideration. And whatever good I can do to the people, I am doing it,” he said.

But he added, “Politically, if I will say that I don’t have any ambition, nobody will believe me. I won’t believe you at all. I won’t believe you at least. I am not a sanyasi. I am in politics.”

He said political power was sought for “the betterment of the people”.