After a delay of 10 days, the Congress on Thursday ended the suspense over the Kerala chief minister and announced VD Satheesan – the ‘people’s choice’ – over its preferred pick – KC Venugopal – as the head of its new government.
Congress made the announcement during a press conference which was addressed by Kerala Incharge Deepa Dasmunshi, along with party General Secretary Communications incharge Jairam Ramesh, Kerala observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik.
Sateeshan is expected to take oath on May 18 in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, coming to decision was not an easy task for the party high command as Congress General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chenithalla were also in race besides Sateeshan.
Sources in the arty said that Sateeshan emerged as the front runner and finally turning the choice of high command was due to the role of alliance partners in the state that included IUML, Kerala Congress and Revolutionary Socialist Party which had won 32 seats in the last month assembly polls.
Party insiders pointed out that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had a detailed discussion on the Chief ministerial face.
Despite Venugopal leading the chief ministerial race with the backing of over 43 newly elected Congress MLAs during the CLP meeting on May 7, he lacked the support from the alliance partners, which proved a major bone of contention for the grand old party.
The insiders stated that it was reason why Rahul Gandhi met with several state leaders including working Presidents, former state presidents to come to a decision looking at all aspects.
The top sources said that Venugopal lost the race on Wednesday evening when Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had a detailed discussion for over 40 minutes, in which views of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also included.
On Thursday morning, Venugopal had a brief meeting with Rahul Gandhi at 5 Sunehri Bagh for over two hours where the decision was announced to him. After the meeting of Rahul Gandhi and Venugopal, the observers and incharge met with Kharge at his residence 10 Rajaji before making the formal announcement, the source added.
Sources said that IUML, which is a big support to Congress in Kerala. And especially in Wayanad from where Rahul Gandhi had won twice – 2019 and 2024, and then Priyanka Gandhi winning from the same seat in 2024 by polls.
The Congress didnot wanted to lose the majority share in the state, where.it hold grip on the voters and thus it went with the Sateeshan, as he was the choice of people and also of ally partners, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the sources also indicated that party had decided not to field any Lok Sabha MPs in the polls and thus nominating a sitting MP for the top post, would have brought unnecessary risk of victory in by polls and in case of defeat would have left the party embarassed.
Soon after being named as Pinarayi Vijayan’s sucesssor, Satheesan praised Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala and offered a message of unity and support.
“I do not see this position as a personal achievement… it was Venugopal who coordinated all the activities (and) his support was immense. Chennithala is also my leader.”
Sateeshan also said that he will take all of them into confidence and appealed for support from overlooked leaders and their followers.
“I seek the support of every section of people… only a collective effort can build a new Kerala. No one can do it alone…” he added.
Venugopal also backed party decision and said, he accepted the party’s decision and preferred to focus on its “stunning victory”.
He told reporters: “Satheesan has been appointed as chief minister. I was saying the decision of the High Command will prevail, and it is my responsibility to see that the decision is respected and implemented.”
