 Summary of this article
- Congress leaders in Delhi failed to reach a consensus on Kerala’s next Chief Minister despite hours of high-level discussions.
- The high command rebuked leaders for public lobbying and ordered an end to flex-board campaigns and street mobilisation.
- Past Congress governments in Kerala and other states have often been weakened by prolonged leadership battles after major electoral victories.
As Kerala awaits its next Chief Minister, talks held by the Congress high command in New Delhi on Saturday ended without a final decision. Leaders said the announcement would be made in due course, noting that there is time until May 23 to decide.
The high-level meeting, held at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, began at 4 pm and concluded around 7 pm. It was attended by senior leaders Rahul Gandhi, V. D. Satheesan, K. C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and KPCC president Sunny Joseph.
Just a week after the Congress won 63 seats and the United Democratic Front secured a historic 102-seat majority, the party has fallen back into familiar factional tensions marked by public protests, internal lobbying, and sharp exchanges. Chennithala has staked his claim to the Chief Minister’s post on the basis of seniority, while Venugopal is believed to have the support of most legislators. Satheesan has gained backing from some sections of the public and party cadre.
Sources said the high command reprimanded leaders for encouraging public displays of support and fuelling tensions, warning that such actions had damaged the party’s image and complicated the selection process. During the meeting, Chennithala argued that he was the senior-most leader. Meanwhile, Satheesan pointed to his leadership during the election campaign and his stance against attempts to divide voters along communal lines. Satheesan also requested the high command to consult allies on their preferred Chief Ministerial candidate. Venugopal highlighted his support among MLAs and his role in the party’s electoral victories.
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AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken also participated in the discussions at Kharge’s residence. They had submitted their report to Kharge on Friday after meeting newly elected MLAs at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram the previous day. The observers then held separate discussions with Congress MPs and leaders from allied parties.
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BY Outlook News Desk |
