THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress brass moved closer Tuesday to ending Kerala's week-long chief minister deadlock after protests, social media campaigns and factional muscle-flexing threatened to overshadow the United Democratic Front's blowout election victory.
Final Talks Underway
A final round of talks involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi was expected to seal the decision on the successor to the Left Front's 10-year tenure in Kerala, party sources said. The All India Congress Committee also summoned senior Kerala functionaries to New Delhi. Politicians emerging from meetings with Rahul Gandhi signalled that an announcement could come on Wednesday.
Impact of Delay
After eight days of suspense and backroom bargaining, Congress functionaries conceded that the prolonged uncertainty had taken the edge off the Congress-led UDF's emphatic triumph over the CPM-led Left Democratic Front. The UDF bagged 103 seats in the 140-member assembly, but the delay in naming a chief minister reopened factional fault lines that had been papered over during the campaign.
Contenders and Support
Three heavyweights remain locked in the contest: K C Venugopal, and MLAs V D Satheesan and R Chennithala. The Venugopal camp claimed the support of 43 MLAs in the 63-member Congress bloc, while the Satheesan and Chennithala factions projected backing of 35 and 22 MLAs, respectively.
Sources said the Gandhis sought explanations on coordinated protests over the delay. Party leaders said public sentiment, cadre mood and views of allies would shape the final call.
