The Congress leadership's consultations on selecting the next chief minister of Kerala have exposed differences within the party over whether allies in the ruling United Democratic Front should have a role in the decision-making process. Senior Kerala Congress leaders summoned to Delhi by the high command included former KPCC presidents V M Sudheeran, Mullappally Ramachandran, K Muraleedharan, K Sudhakaran and M M Hassan. The party also called senior MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and working presidents P C Vishnunath, Shafi Parambil and A P Anil Kumar for consultations in the national capital.
Leaders Express Divergent Views
After the meetings, Sudhakaran said his stand remained unchanged and maintained that the views of MLAs should be considered while selecting the chief minister. Radhakrishnan said he conveyed his opinion to the high command and responded to all queries raised during the discussions. On whether UDF ally Indian Union Muslim League should have a say in the matter, he questioned why the IUML was being dragged into the issue. Why are you bringing IUML into this? They need not be involved in this, he told reporters, adding that a decision on the Kerala CM would be announced soon.
Muraleedharan said he had conveyed his views to the leadership and expected a decision by Wednesday. A P Anil Kumar said the high command would consider all aspects before taking a final call. The main contenders for the chief minister's post are senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala, V D Satheesan and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal.
Coalition Partners' Role Debated
Earlier in the day, Muraleedharan said the decision would not be based solely on MLAs' opinions and that the views of UDF allies and the public would also be taken into account. He said the party was deciding the chief minister of the UDF government, not just the Congress Legislature Party leader, and therefore coalition partners' opinions mattered. If MLAs' views alone were enough, the decision would have already been taken, he said while speaking to a television channel in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, Hassan rejected suggestions that alliance partners could influence the process and asserted that the Congress alone would decide its Legislature Party leader and chief minister. The high command's move to consult former KPCC chiefs has also boosted hopes in Satheesan's camp, with party leaders pointing to his strong support among grassroots UDF workers and backing from key ally IUML. Besides Muraleedharan, Sudheeran is also learnt to have favoured taking public sentiment into account before finalising the new chief minister.
Rahul Gandhi Holds One-on-One Meetings
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday held one-on-one deliberations with several ex-Kerala Congress chiefs in a bid to end the uncertainty over the selection of the new chief minister for the southern state, as the discussions entered the final phase with a decision likely on Wednesday. Former Congress president Gandhi met several key party leaders from Kerala, including ex-state unit chiefs, working presidents and other key leaders, at Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence.
Satisfied with my discussions with party leader Rahul Gandhi. A decision will be made on the Kerala CM by tomorrow, former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Muraleedharan told reporters here. He said another meeting will be held, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, to deliberate on the issue, and a final decision will be made after consultations with Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Kharge returned to the national capital from Bengaluru on Tuesday evening. However, he did not hold any meeting with the Kerala leaders.
KPCC Chief Hints at Imminent Decision
KPCC chief Sunny Joseph on Tuesday used terminology associated with the election of the Pope at the Vatican to indicate that the Congress high command may soon arrive at a decision on Kerala's next chief minister. White smoke can be expected soon, Joseph told reporters, referring to the prolonged discussions within the party over the selection of the chief minister after the Congress-led UDF's victory in the Assembly elections. However, he refrained from specifying any timeframe for the announcement. It is expected at the earliest. The high command can take an appropriate decision after necessary consultations, he said, as the party leadership in New Delhi continued discussions to break the deadlock over the chief ministerial choice.
Asked about the swearing-in of the new government, Joseph said the newly elected chief minister would take a decision on government formation after meeting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The KPCC chief also admitted that the delay in announcing the chief minister and the public tussle within the party had overshadowed the scale of the UDF's electoral victory. I do admit that. But the grace of the victory will be enhanced once the new government comes to power, he added.
