Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs on 12 May amid uncertainty over who will be the chief minister of Kerala, a week after the party-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won the state’s assembly elections.
Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, and senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala have been among the top contenders for the chief minister post.
At least seven of the ten leaders present in the meeting backed KC Venugopal as the next Kerala CM, according to a report in Hindustan Times. VD Sateeshan, received the backing of two of the ten leaders, while one remained neutral.
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The main contenders for the Kerala Chief Minister post are VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala. A meeting with former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs was held to discuss this decision.
The delay in announcing the Kerala Chief Minister was due to prolonged consultations within the Congress party, intense lobbying by different factions, and protests by workers. There was also reported interference from UDF allies in the selection process.
Congress leaders indicated that the high command had completed all discussions and would announce the decision. Meetings between Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge were held to finalize the choice.
During a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, at least seven out of ten former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs backed KC Venugopal for the Chief Minister post. VD Sateeshan received backing from two leaders, while one remained neutral.
KC Venugopal is the General Secretary (Organisation) of the Congress party and a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, elected from the Alappuzha constituency in 2024. He is considered to be close to Rahul Gandhi.
The name of the third contender, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, seems to have gone out of contention, the report said adding that Rahul Gandhi expressed concern about the road shows and displays of strength by warring factions within the Kerala Congress.
Who is KC Venugopal?
General Secretary (Organisation), in the Congress party, KC Venugopal is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha elected from Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. Venugopal is said to be close to Rahul Gandhi.
Former KPCC presidents Mullappally Ramachandran, MM Hassan, K Sudhakaran, VM Sudheeran, K Muraleedharan, A P Anilkumar, PC Vishnunath and Shafi Parambil have attended the meeting with Rahul Gadni in New Delhi to to finalise the next CM of the state.
‘White smoke can be expected soon’
Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph said that ‘white smoke can be expected soon’.
“It is expected at the earliest. The high command can take an appropriate decision after necessary consultations,” he said.
Earlier, speaking with reporters, Hassan avoided making any direct comments regarding the next Kerala Chief Minister and said the high command will decide after considering all aspects.
“The Congress high command asked us to come here for the discussion. I hope that the discussions will be held regarding the chief ministership. We are all requesting that the decision be announced. The high command will make a decision while considering all the aspects,” he said.
It’s been more than a week since the UDF won the Kerala assembly elections. Still, suspense continues over Congress’s chief ministerial nominee for the state.
Assembly elections were held in Kerala along with West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. West Bengal, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu have their chief ministers. Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam today. However, the Congress party hasn’t finalised its chief ministerial choice in Kerala yet.
At least seven of the ten leaders present in the meeting backed KC Venugopal as the next Kerala CM.
The Congress has 63 MLAs in the 140-member Kerala Assembly. The Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) has 22 legislators, and the alliance partner’s opinion will matter. The Kerala Congress (KEC) has won eight seats, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has won three in the just-concluded polls. The UDF has won 102 seats, which is more than a two-thirds majority.
The term of the outgoing Kerala assembly ends on 23 May.
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