The process of announcing the new CM face will not be easy for the Congress, as in the race are three veteran leaders who enjoy substantial support in the state.
Even as the Congress-led UDF emerged victorious in Kerala by dethroning the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, the grand old party now faces another test: naming a Chief Ministerial candidate, with three senior party leaders — Ramesh Chennithala, K.C. Venugopal and V.D. Satheesan — in the race.
After its victory in Kerala, the Congress appointed senior party leaders Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik as observers to ascertain the views of the newly elected MLAs on the Chief Ministerial candidate.
The two leaders held detailed one-on-one discussions with the MLAs in Kerala after the CLP meeting and submitted their report to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
However, sources indicated that the process of announcing the new Chief Ministerial face will not be easy for the Congress, as all three are veteran leaders who enjoy substantial support in the State.
A party insider said that Venugopal, who is also the party’s General Secretary (Organisation), has emerged as the frontrunner for the Chief Ministerial post in the State, followed by Chennithala.
However, Satheesan, who handled the role of Leader of the Opposition in the State, has seen his supporters demand that he be made the new Chief Minister.
They have also staged protests at several places in Kerala demanding that Satheesan should be appointed Chief Minister.
But the party insider cautioned that it should not be forgotten why Venugopal has emerged as the frontrunner for the top post in the State.
He said that most of the newly elected MLAs are believed to be from the Venugopal camp, having been fielded in the elections.
In the first list of 55 Congress candidates released ahead of the polls, 17 were considered Venugopal loyalists, followed by nine Chennithala loyalists and five Satheesan loyalists.
Thus, the number of newly elected MLAs backing Venugopal is seen as natural. Another factor working in his favour is his organisational clout, as he also holds the powerful post of General Secretary (Organisation).
To manage potential dissent following the announcement of the name for the top post, the Congress has also asked the senior Kerala leaders to arrive in the national capital so that the decision can be conveyed to them by the party president.
Satheesan, Chennithala and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph arrived in the national capital on Friday night and are set to hold a meeting with Kharge after 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Chennithala, who also enjoys significant support in Kerala, is keeping his cards close to his chest. He is considered the second most preferred leader for the top post and has been handling organisational work quietly in the State.
Thus, the party insider said that the decision on the new Chief Ministerial face will first be communicated to the Kerala leaders by Kharge himself, after which the date of the oath ceremony will be announced for government formation.
In the recently concluded polls, the Congress-led UDF won 102 out of 140 seats in the State. The Congress won 63 out of the 95 seats it contested, while the IUML secured 22 seats.
