Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Congress is expected to finalise its chief ministerial pick for Kerala by Sunday after newly elected MLAs and senior leaders conveyed their views with AICC observers following the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The United Democratic Front (UDF), which secured a decisive victory with 102 seats in the Assembly elections, has tasked the party high command with taking the final call on the leadership issue. The Congress alone won 63 seats, giving it a clear edge in deciding the next chief minister.During the CLP meeting, a resolution was passed authorising the Congress leadership to choose the CM candidate. Following this, AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held consultations with MLAs and senior party figures before preparing their report for the central leadership.
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan indicated that the decision-making process was nearing completion. “I have given my opinion. The decision on who will be the chief minister will be known by Sunday,” he said after the meeting.Kerala Congress president K Sudhakaran also met the observers and stressed the importance of support from elected legislators in choosing the next chief minister. “Without their support, the legislative party cannot be taken forward. The candidate should have their support, and it is in the interest of the chief minister,” Sudhakaran said, while adding that the views of party workers and senior leaders should also be taken into account. He clarified that he had not backed any specific leader and left the final decision to the party high command.Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, one of the frontrunners for the post, also met the observers but declined to comment publicly afterwards. Senior Congress leader P J Kurien said the consultation process followed the party’s established system of collecting feedback from MLAs and senior functionaries before the high command takes a call.
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Speculation within the party continues over who will eventually lead the government, with reports suggesting that a significant section of MLAs are backing K C Venugopal, despite him not contesting the Assembly elections. Along with Venugopal and Satheesan, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is also being seen as a contender for the top post.Several newly elected MLAs, including Chandy Oommen and Sandeep Varier, declined to reveal whom they supported, maintaining that internal discussions would remain confidential until the Congress leadership announces its decision.
