Kerala CM race shifts to high command as AICC observers consult MLAs, UDF allies

Amid intense lobbying among three senior Congress leaders for Keralas Chief Minister post, AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken on Thursday took the views of party MLAs and UDF allies on the leadership choice, shifting the centre of activity to the high command.

Amid intense lobbying among three senior Congress leaders for Kerala's Chief Minister post, AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken on Thursday took the views of party MLAs and UDF allies on the leadership choice, shifting the centre of activity to the high command. Days after the party-led UDF stormed back to power after a decade with a massive mandate in the Assembly elections, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously passed a resolution authorising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the CLP leader who would become the Chief Minister of the state. Following the adoption of the resolution, the AICC observers held individual meetings with MLAs to seek their views on the leadership issue at the KPCC headquarters here. The party's state in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi, senior state Congress leaders, and newly elected legislators attended the closed-door meeting. Later, the observers met leaders of the Congress' alliance partners to seek their views on the next Chief Minister. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, former Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal are the top contenders for the post. The CLP meeting was held amid intense lobbying, besides a fierce social media campaign by their camps to garner support for their respective leaders. Responding to reporters after the CLP meeting, Wasnik said there was an atmosphere of jubilation as the Congress victory in the Assembly election was ''remarkable'' and ''historic''. ''It is a matter of great joy, and in this atmosphere the meeting took place,'' he said. Asked whether it was a tough or easy decision for the AICC observers to make on the next Kerala Chief Minister, Wasnik did not give a clear answer. ''The meeting went on very well. The first item the Congress legislators decided was to unanimously pass a resolution, which was moved by KPCC president Sunny Joseph and seconded by the CLP leader in the previous Assembly, V D Satheesan, authorising the Congress president to decide on the next CLP leader,'' he said. Maken said, ''Let us see what happens next.'' He said the party leadership wanted one-on-one discussions with all MLAs. ''We held discussions with all MLAs. In the evening, we are leaving for Delhi. We will submit our report. We are hopeful that a decision will be taken soon. Everyone has left it to the leadership to decide,'' Maken said. After the meeting, KPCC president Sunny Joseph told reporters that the resolution has been informed to the AICC. ''The observers will return to New Delhi and give the information to the high command, after which a proper decision will be taken,'' he said. Before heading for New Delhi, the observers also met leaders of the UDF partners, including the IUML and KEC. Following the meeting Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikutty told reporters here that the party's stand on the issue was communicated to the Congress leaders. ''They patiently heard us and said they will report it to their high command in Delhi. We will wait for further communication from Delhi and when it comes, we will discuss the same in our party and will take a decision,'' Kunhalikutty, who won with a huge majority from the Malappuram assembly seat, said. He was accompanied by party leaders P M A Salam and E T Mohammed Basheer. Besides the IUML, leaders of the Kerala Congress (KEC), Kerala Congress (Jacob), and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) also met the observers. After the meeting, RSP leader Shibu Baby John said the political situation in Kerala, the UDF victory, and all related aspects were discussed with the observers. ''We also told them that whosoever the Congress selects as the CM will be acceptable to us. We did not say anyone's name and we do not intend to interfere in the matter,'' he said. He also said they were neither asked whom they preferred as Chief Minister nor did they suggest anyone's name. As developments unfolded during the day, supporters of Venugopal and Satheesan stepped up pressure through their backers in the state as well as on social media. While Venugopal's supporters put up huge hoardings outside the KPCC headquarters and in other parts of the state, Satheesan's followers staged demonstrations in various places, demanding that he be made the next Chief Minister of Kerala. UDF secured 102 seats out of the 140 constituencies in the state assembly election held on April 9. The Congress won 63 seats.