NEW DELHI: Congress on Monday enlarged the consultation process to finalise the new chief minister of Kerala, amid growing suspense following a tussle for the top job between AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and leader of opposition V D Satheesan.
Extended Consultations
The party has called former state presidents - K Sudhakaran, K Muraleedharan, V M Sudheeran, M M Hassan - and some other state leaders for discussions with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. The top brass will speak to another former state chief, Mullapally Ramachandran, over the phone as he is unable to travel to Delhi. It is assumed that Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has also provided her views on the subject, as has veteran leader A K Antony.
Speculations and Contenders
The heightened anticipation is accompanied by speculations that Venugopal is likely to get the Kerala assignment. A Rahul Gandhi confidant, Venugopal has pitched his case by virtue of having the largest contingent of MLAs backing him. Satheesan, who spearheaded the party's charge against the Left front government, is said to have told the leadership that he will not join the state government if he is not made the chief minister.
The prolonged consultations suggest that the party fears a blowback from leaving out Satheesan and is taking pains to ensure that the final nominee is well received. Many on social media have threatened protests, while others have said that any chief minister other than Satheesan would take the sheen off the landslide victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Muraleedharan told reporters that the party will decide on the chief minister by Wednesday.
