Kerala CM Race: A week after the Congress-led UDF registered a sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, the party remains locked in a bitter internal battle over the chief minister’s post.
The race for the top job now appears to have narrowed to two frontrunners, as Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, met several senior leaders from Kerala, including UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and KPCC disciplinary committee chief Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
Rahul Gandhi also interacted with five former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and three KPCC working presidents as the party intensified consultations on the leadership issue.
Leaders Are Backing KC Venugopal
Most of the leaders are said to have backed K C Venugopal as the next Kerala Chief Minister. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan reportedly received the support of two of the ten leaders consulted, while one remained neutral.
According to a Hindustan Times report citing sources, K Muraleedharan and VM Sudheeran backed Satheesan, while the names of Venugopal’s supporters have not yet been confirmed. The name of the third contender, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, now appears to be out of the race.
During the meetings, Rahul Gandhi is also said to have raised concerns over roadshows and open displays of strength by rival factions within the Kerala Congress unit.
Meanwhile, according to an NDTV report citing sources, VD Satheesan has taken a firm stand and conveyed to the party leadership that he is unwilling to accept any role other than that of chief minister. However, the Congress central leadership is reportedly leaning towards KC Venugopal, who is believed to enjoy the backing of Rahul Gandhi and a majority of the newly elected MLAs.
The Congress-led UDF has won 102 of the total 140 seats in the Kerala assembly, with the outgoing LDF managing 35. The BJP ended up winning 3 seats.