Kerala CM Suspense Continues as Congress Weighs 3 Names
Congress yet to finalise chief minister despite UDF’s massive election victory in Kerala
- Congress leadership still undecided on Kerala Chief Minister
- KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala in race
- Senior Kerala Congress leaders summoned to Delhi
- UDF allies growing uneasy over delay in government formation
GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 12th May: The suspense over Kerala’s next Chief Minister continues more than a week after the Congress-led United Democratic Front secured a massive victory in the Assembly elections.
Despite winning a clear mandate in the May 4 elections, the Indian National Congress leadership has not yet finalised the name of the next Chief Minister, triggering intense political discussions within the party and among alliance partners.
The delay has increased political activity in Delhi, where several senior Kerala Congress leaders have been called by the party high command for consultations on government formation.
Three Leaders in Chief Minister Race
The contest for the top post is currently centred around three senior Congress leaders — KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala.
Sources said the Congress high command held detailed discussions with all three leaders over the weekend.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also met Kerala leaders, including Sunny Joseph and party in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, as part of the process to select the Congress Legislature Party leader.
According to party sources, KC Venugopal currently appears to enjoy the support of a majority of Congress MLAs, while VD Satheesan is considered more popular among the public.
Senior Leaders Called to Delhi
Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K Muraleedharan has been asked to reach Delhi for consultations.
Before leaving for the national capital, Muraleedharan said the decision on the next Chief Minister was expected within the next 48 hours.
Other leaders called to Delhi include KPCC vice-president AP Anil Kumar, Shafi Parambil, PC Vishnunath and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The consultations come as the current Kerala Assembly’s term is set to end on May 23, increasing pressure on the Congress to complete the government formation process quickly.
UDF Allies Growing Restless
Sources said the prolonged delay has also caused unease among UDF alliance partners.
The UDF registered a landslide victory in the 140-member Kerala Assembly by winning 102 seats, crossing the two-thirds majority mark comfortably.
The Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 63 seats, while the Indian Union Muslim League won 22 seats. The Kerala Congress secured eight seats and the Revolutionary Socialist Party won three.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala defended the delay and said the selection process reflected the party’s democratic functioning.
“We have conveyed everything to the high command. Now the decision rests with them,” he said after returning from Delhi.
Party leaders have also appealed to workers not to organise demonstrations or display flex boards supporting any particular candidate for the Chief Minister’s post.
