Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, May 9: The Congress leadership is set for a decisive round of discussions on Saturday as the party prepares to choose Kerala’s next Chief Minister following the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) sweeping victory in the Assembly elections.
Senior Kerala Congress leaders, including V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Sunny Joseph, are expected to meet the party high command in Delhi for final consultations.
The discussions will be led by Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, with the final decision likely to shape both the new government and the future direction of the party in Kerala.
At the centre of the leadership contest is K. C. Venugopal, who is believed to have secured the support of a majority of Congress MLAs. Party sources indicate that around 47 of the party’s 63 legislators backed Venugopal before AICC observers, citing his organisational influence and national-level experience.
However, strong public and political backing continues to favour Satheesan, who led the Congress campaign against the Left Democratic Front government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan.
Supporters of Satheesan have organised demonstrations, torchlight marches and slogan campaigns across several districts, arguing that the leader who spearheaded the electoral battle should be entrusted with leading the state government.
The Congress high command is reportedly uneasy about the scale and tone of the public mobilisation in Satheesan’s support, viewing it as a possible challenge to party discipline and central leadership authority. Senior leaders are expected to address these concerns during the Delhi meetings.
The situation has become more sensitive with the intervention of the Indian Union Muslim League. Party leadership under Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal is understood to have conveyed to Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, that Satheesan enjoys strong public support and should not be overlooked.
The League has also reportedly warned that ignoring Satheesan could create political complications within the alliance.
Meanwhile, Chennithala remains in contention as a potential compromise candidate if the leadership fails to reconcile differences between the Venugopal and Satheesan camps. His supporters point to his seniority and administrative experience as factors that could help maintain balance within the party.
Congress observers who reviewed the political situation in Kerala have reportedly described it as highly delicate. While acknowledging that public sentiment largely favours Satheesan, they also noted Venugopal’s strong legislative backing within the party.
The Congress leadership is expected to work towards a balancing formula that could involve power-sharing arrangements, allocation of key ministerial portfolios, and organisational responsibilities.
The Congress-led UDF secured a major victory in the Kerala Assembly elections by winning 102 seats in the 140-member House, ending a decade of Left rule under Pinarayi Vijayan.