NEW DELHI: Amid a strong claim of Kerala leader V D Satheesan to the chief minister's post, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday brainstormed the selection of the next leader in the state, while hearing out the three aspirants that include K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Venugopal is a strong contender for the top job.
Party cracks down on factional campaigns
The party also lashed out at the protest marches and social media campaign taken out by factional supporters, widely viewed as a reference to the actions of the Satheesan camp targeting Venugopal. The crucial meeting included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and state president Sunny Joseph. AICC state incharge Deepa Dasmunshi said, 'A decision will be taken in due course.'
UDF victory sparks leadership tussle
Though the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has won Kerala by a landslide, hard bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the top post has created suspense over the last few days. Satheesan, who as the Leader of Opposition was the face of the party for the last five years, has been vocal in his claim to the chief minister's post, and a general atmosphere in the state, too, exists in his favour. Congress partners in UDF are also strongly backing Satheesan, whom they credit for leading the battle against the Left front government.
While AICC observers Maken and Wasnik, who met the state legislators on Thursday, found that an overwhelming bloc of newly-elected MLAs support Rahul Gandhi confidant Venugopal, they are also said to have spoken about factoring in the 'public sentiment'. They briefed Kharge and Rahul first, before the top duo met the chief ministerial claimants separately.
Consensus building efforts
Sources said the party does not want to displease any of the leaders who are left out, and is keen to evolve a consensus. 'Else the decision would have been announced by now,' a source said. Importantly, Sonia Gandhi was also consulted by Kharge and Rahul. The top duo is learnt to have pulled up the state leaders for taking out campaigns on the leadership in their favour.
