THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The suspense over Kerala's next chief minister persisted as the Congress high command weighed competing claims from senior leaders, with lobbying by camps backing K C Venugopal and V D Satheesan intensifying after consultations in New Delhi.
The Congress leadership is yet to finalize the chief ministerial candidate, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and senior leader A K Antony expected to play a key role in the decision-making process. Sources indicated that discussions with key UDF allies might also take place before the leadership announces its choice.
With the interaction process now complete, the three principal contenders — K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala — await the final decision from the high command. Leaders close to all three camps expressed confidence that the leadership would eventually back their candidate.
Supporters of Venugopal believe the Congress leadership may consider the majority sentiment within the Congress legislature party and his organizational experience at the national level. They also rely on what they describe as favorable opinion within sections of the party high command. The Satheesan camp, meanwhile, has argued that public sentiment in Kerala and the backing of several UDF allies have strengthened his prospects. Although the central leadership is said to have expressed displeasure over public demonstrations and mobilization by Satheesan supporters, his camp maintains that the party cannot overlook the mood on the ground.
Ramesh Chennithala, too, is reported to have presented his case strongly before the leadership, relying on his seniority and long administrative and political experience. Sources said Chennithala remains hopeful that the leadership could eventually consider his claim for the top post.
During the discussions, Rahul Gandhi is understood to have told the three leaders that all of them were capable candidates and that the final decision would be based on merit as well as larger political considerations. At the same time, he reportedly indicated that the current political atmosphere was not suitable for an immediate announcement.
The three contenders have maintained silence since their meetings with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, with the high command issuing strict instructions against indiscipline, public campaigning, and mobilization by supporters.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Congress leadership would announce the next chief minister soon. Speaking to reporters after returning from New Delhi, Joseph said discussions between the high command and the three aspirants had been positive and there was no immediate need for another round of consultations with state leaders. “Everyone has been asked to refrain from controversial moves. A good decision will be made and everyone will move forward together,” he said, while declining to specify a timeline. Asked whether UDF allies would be consulted, Joseph said the matter would be decided by the party leadership.
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan also appealed for restraint among party workers, saying it was the responsibility of every Congress worker to accept the final decision of the high command. “These differences are natural in the party. Let the leadership take a decision and everyone should stand united behind it,” Muraleedharan said. He added that the Congress had a well-established mechanism for selecting a chief minister, under which the final call rests with the central leadership after consultations with MLAs and senior leaders. Muraleedharan also said party workers had been instructed to avoid protests, rallies, and public displays of support for individual leaders after recent tensions among rival camps.
Congress leaders indicated that the final decision could come within days, but party sources said the leadership was proceeding cautiously to avoid deepening factional divisions within the Kerala unit after the UDF's assembly election victory.
