The Congress party is set to select its leader for the Chief Minister's post in Kerala over the coming weekend. According to sources, K C Venugopal has secured the backing of 43 out of the 53 party MLAs who expressed their preference for the position. The remaining 10 legislators have deferred the decision to the party's High Command, leaving the final call to the central leadership.
Background of the Leadership Race
The selection process comes amid intense political maneuvering within the Kerala Congress unit. The party had earlier sought the opinions of its MLAs to gauge support for various contenders. Venugopal, a prominent leader and former Union Minister, emerged as the frontrunner with a clear majority among those who responded. His chief rival, V D Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, is also a key candidate but appears to have less support among the MLAs.
Next Steps
The party High Command is expected to finalize the name after considering the feedback and ensuring consensus. The announcement is likely to be made after a meeting of the central leadership, which includes the party president and other senior members. The chosen candidate will then be formally elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and subsequently stake claim to form the government.
This development is significant as Kerala gears up for a change in government, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) poised to take power after the recent assembly elections. The new Chief Minister is expected to be sworn in next week, following the completion of formalities.
