Protest rally for V D Satheesan as Congress CM race intensifies in Kerala

The tug of war over the Kerala Chief Minister’s post intensified in the Congress with supporters of V D Satheesan staging a demonstration demanding that he be made the next Chief Minister of Kerala at Nettoor.

The demonstration was staged when AICC observers held a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and held individual discussions with 63 Congress MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram to gather their views on the selection of the Chief Minister.

Home turf show of support

Nettoor is Satheesan’s native place. He was a prominent face of the UDF campaign in the Assembly elections in which the front won 102 seats.

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The demonstrators carried a huge flex board with the slogan: “Whoever led the election battle should rule the state.” There are reports that a section of MLAs is supporting MP K C Venugopal for the chief minister’s post even though he did not contest the Assembly election.

Apart from Kochi, his supporters have announced similar demonstrations across the state.

Three-way leadership race

Satheesan won the election from the North Paravoor constituency in Ernakulam district.

At present, Satheesan, Venugopal and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala are being considered for the chief minister’s post.

According to an Indian Express report, during the CLP meeting, a resolution was passed authorising the AICC president to take the final call on the selection of the legislature party leader.

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The Congress-led UDF had swept the election, winning 102 of the 140 seats, with the Congress alone securing a record 63 seats. Despite the commanding mandate, the party has found it difficult to settle the leadership issue, with Satheesan, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal all in contention for the top post.

Observers gauge internal mood

AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held one-to-one meetings with Congress MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram to assess their preferences. Senior leaders aligned with the three camps also met the observers during the day.

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The leadership battle has triggered visible tension within the Kerala unit of the Congress. A section of party workers has openly rallied behind Satheesan, maintaining that the electoral mandate was shaped by his political line and campaign leadership, stated the report.

Supporters of Satheesan are also preparing demonstrations in different parts of the state. He has led the UDF in the Assembly over the last five years and is widely seen as one of the central figures behind the alliance’s victory.

Chennithala’s supporters hopeful

Though the contest is currently being viewed as largely between Satheesan and Venugopal, Chennithala’s supporters remain hopeful, banking on his seniority and long-standing organisational experience.

The report, quoting Congress sources, further stated that a majority of newly elected legislators are backing Venugopal, who is regarded as the party’s most influential leader from Kerala at the national level and is seen as being close to Rahul Gandhi.

(With agency inputs)