Congress' Kerala CM Race Deadlock Deepens, Senior Leaders Summoned by High Command

New Delhi: The leadership crisis within the Congress over the selection of the next Chief Minister in Kerala has deepened further, prompting the party high command to summon several former KPCC presidents to New Delhi for discussions.

Senior leaders including K. Sudhakaran, K. Muraleedharan, Mullappally Ramachandran, M. M. Hassan, and V. M. Sudheeran have reportedly been invited for discussions amid the ongoing deadlock.

The move comes after talks led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi failed to produce a consensus, with K. C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V. D. Satheesan all continuing to stake claim to the Chief Minister’s post.

Venugopal is understood to have told the leadership that he enjoys the backing of a majority of MLAs as well as support from senior organisational leaders, including the KPCC president and working presidents. However, Satheesan has accused Venugopal of using financial influence and his position within the national leadership to win over legislators.

Satheesan also claimed that the sentiments of party workers and the public were largely in his favour and insisted that the opinions of alliance partners should be respected. He reportedly conveyed that he would not accept a ministerial berth if denied the Chief Minister’s post.

Chennithala, meanwhile, argued that seniority should be taken into account, recalling that he had earlier stepped aside for late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the interest of the party. Like Satheesan, he too is said to have adopted a firm stand that he would not join the cabinet if overlooked for the top post.

Congress leader Sunny Joseph reportedly maintained that the support of MLAs should remain the primary criterion in selecting the Chief Minister.

Party insiders indicate that the backing Venugopal enjoys from a majority of legislators and organisational leaders currently works strongly in his favour. However, the high command is believed to be concerned about the possibility of Satheesan taking a confrontational stand if Venugopal is chosen. In such a scenario, Chennithala could emerge as a potential consensus candidate acceptable to all factions.