THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Election won. Succession unsettled. The Congress brass moved into overdrive on Tuesday to pick Kerala's next chief minister, with intense lobbying breaking out across factions after the party-led UDF's emphatic victory, reports Rajiv G.
The decision rests with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, but consultations could stretch up to a week, according to sources.
Three names anchor the contest
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, who steered UDF through five years in the political wilderness to a landslide victory, is seen as the frontrunner. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, is mobilising support. Ramesh Chennithala is the third choice.
Ramesh Chennithala, a former opposition face and multiple-term legislator, is pressing his case based on experience and seniority. Satheesan has the support of the Indian Union Muslim League (22 seats), strengthening his pitch as the consensus face. Chennithala has said seniority must weigh heavily in the choice. Venugopal's camp claimed a sizeable bloc of MLAs and MPs is in its corner.
Congress, with 63 seats in the 140-member assembly, is the largest party in UDF that unseated the CPM-led LDF's two-term government. UDF won 102 seats, while LDF managed 35. The challenge now is political arithmetic within Congress — balancing claims, preventing fissures, and ensuring a smooth swearing-in.
Congress brass keeps options open
The Congress leadership has kept options open, focusing on consensus. A meeting chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, with Rahul present, is set to appoint AICC observers. Pressure is building for a quick call.
Party insiders warned that picking a compromise name outside the main contenders could trigger a backlash, with both Satheesan and Chennithala camps unlikely to accept a diminished role in cabinet formation under such a scenario.
AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said a decision would come soon amid efforts to forge unanimity.
Triangular contest deepens fault lines
The triangular contest has deepened fault lines. Venugopal's backers cited organisational heft and central backing. Satheesan's camp mentioned public acceptability and his role in the victory. Chennithala has reminded Congress that Satheesan's elevation as opposition leader in 2021 went against prevailing sentiment, underlining the central role in leadership calls.
Congress said allies' views will be heard but it is under no compulsion to yield ground, given its numbers.
