Amid the suspense, supporters of KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are putting up flex boards and holding demonstrations to back their preferred candidates.
Supporters of Congress leader VD Satheesan take out a protest march to back him as the CM candidate. (PTI)
Five days after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) stormed to power in Kerala, the grand old party is yet to select a Chief Ministerial face, which has prompted unprecedented competition within Congress cadres loyal to V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala – all contenders for the top post.
Congress workers supporting different leaders have carried out extensive rallies in Kerala, erected giant boards and flooded social media with posts, demanding the appointment of their preferred leader. Supporters carrying Satheesan carried out demonstrations in Kozhikode, portraying him as a “kingmaker” and “Bahubali”, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
The show of support has taken a fierce turn after posters of KC Venugopal were torn down in Thiruvananthapuram and replaced by Satheesan’s banners. Congress has taken action against such demonstrations by removing four office-bearers who supported Satheesan in Idukki.
The fighting is not confined to any public posters. Several supporters of Satheesan have urged the party leadership not to appoint Venugopal as the Chief Minister. Other posts argued that Venugopal had better backing than Satheesan, and some called Chennithala a “people’s Chief Minister.”
Congress Appeals Against Unruly Behaviour
While several senior leaders are reportedly backing Venugopal, they have argued that the Chief Minister should be selected based on the party’s consensus rather than public pressure.
Congress’s top brass on Saturday also held a three-hour meeting to discuss government formation in Kerala in the national capital. Satheesan, Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala have also appealed to workers not to have any flex wars or protests.
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“Everyone expressed their views, and Rahulji heard them patiently. The final decision on the chief minister will be taken by the Congress high command, and whatever decision is made will be accepted by all,” Chennithala said.
Deepa Dasmunshi, the Kerala Congress’s in-charge, said the “unruly behaviour” is not part of the party’s culture and urged supporters to refrain from such conduct. After the public appeal, some Congress workers have pulled down the posters in several areas.
Venugopal said that while there is nothing wrong with a section of people preferring a certain leader, campaigns tarnishing the image of others should be stopped. “There have been some unfortunate incidents. They should be ended,” he added.
Suspense Over CM Face
The Congress-led UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, ending the CPI(M)-led LDF’s 10-year rule in the state. Congress alone secured 63 seats.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan is seen as a strong contender after leading the UDF campaign. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, considered close to Rahul Gandhi, is also in the race, while senior leader Ramesh Chennithala remains a key claimant.
The Congress Legislature Party authorised the party high command to take the final call on the CM post after consulting MLAs and alliance partners. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held meetings with elected MLAs and senior leaders in Thiruvananthapuram.
(with inputs from PTI)
Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India
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