New Delhi: Amid strong claims by opposition leader V D Satheesan for the chief minister's post, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held discussions to select the next leader in Kerala. They heard out three aspirants, including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. The party also criticized the protest marches and social media campaigns by factional supporters, widely seen as a reference to actions by the Satheesan camp targeting Venugopal.
Key Meeting and Participants
The crucial meeting included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, along with state president Sunny Joseph. AICC state in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi stated, "A decision will be taken in due course."
Background of the Leadership Race
Although the Congress-led UDF won Kerala by a landslide, intense bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the top post has created suspense over recent days. Satheesan, who served as the leader of opposition for the past five years, has been vocal in claiming the CM's post, and public sentiment in the state largely favors him. UDF allies also strongly back Satheesan, crediting him for leading the battle against the Left front government.
Internal Dynamics and Consultations
Maken and Wasnik, who met state legislators on Thursday, found that an overwhelming majority of newly-elected MLAs support Rahul Gandhi's confidant Venugopal. However, they also discussed factoring in "public sentiment." They briefed Kharge and Rahul before the top leaders met the CM claimants separately.
Sources indicate the party does not want to displease any of the leaders left out and is keen to reach a consensus. "Else the decision would have been announced by now," a source said. Notably, Sonia Gandhi was also consulted by Kharge and Rahul.
All candidates pressed their claims in one-on-one meetings with Kharge and Rahul, which were part of the over three-hour discussion at the former's residence. The top duo is understood to have reprimanded state leaders for conducting social media campaigns to pressure the leadership in their favor.
