Kerala CM puzzle deepens as Congress high command keeps all guessing
New Delhi: Eight days after the Congress-led UDF stormed to power with a spectacular 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the alliance still finds itself without a captain at the helm.
What was expected to be a swift and celebratory transition of power has instead turned into a gripping political suspense drama, with the Congress high command yet to reveal its choice for the coveted chief minister’s chair.
Even as celebrations continue across Kerala over the UDF’s emphatic victory, the corridors of power in Delhi remain abuzz with intense lobbying, strategic calculations and closed-door consultations.
On Tuesday, the suspense is set to deepen further with another crucial round of discussions after the party leadership summoned former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president and senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan for consultations.
As things stand now, AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal appears to enjoy the backing of a majority among the Congress’ 63 legislators.
He is followed by veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala and outgoing Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan.
However, the emergence of Venugopal as a serious contender has triggered a wave of resentment among sections of Congress workers and supporters in Kerala.
Many within the party’s grassroots openly argue that the post rightfully belongs to Satheesan, whose aggressive opposition politics kept the second Pinarayi Vijayan government under relentless pressure over the past five years.
While Venugopal is widely seen as the preferred choice of the central leadership and enjoys the confidence of Rahul Gandhi, Satheesan appears to command greater emotional support among ordinary Congress supporters in Kerala.
Chennithala, meanwhile, continues to remain a formidable claimant with his long administrative and organisational experience.
The debate has now spilled beyond party circles into public discussion as well.
The biggest question being asked is why a sitting MP should be brought in as Kerala’s chief minister. But Congress insiders insist that such concerns hardly trouble the high command.
They point to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who was an MP when elevated to the top post, besides several past instances of Union ministers (A.K. Antony) moving to state politics as chief ministers.
For now, Kerala waits as the Congress high command takes time to make the decision.
Radhakrishnan, just before leaving to meet the high command, said things are coming to a close on the selection of the next CM.
Another top leader, M.M. Hassan, said, “We all expect the name to be announced without further delay, as by now itself the time has elapsed”.