Congress hunts for consensus as camps flex muscle in CM battle: What’s happening Kerala | India News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Days after securing a large victory in the Kerala meeting election, Congress is but to finalise its decide for chief minister.Three senior leaders are in the race — V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and Ok C Venugopal. All three had been in Delhi as of Saturday, with Congress excessive command holding conferences via the week. A ultimate resolution is anticipated inside 24 hours.The final time Congress held energy in Kerala was below Oommen Chandy, whose authorities ended in 2016. Chandy, who handed away in July 2024, stays one of probably the most revered figures in Kerala Congress politics. That made it all of the extra hanging this week when a flex board carrying his picture alongside Venugopal’s was torn down and splashed with black oil by rival supporters.Who’re the contenders?V D SatheesanVeteran Congress chief V D Satheesan is extensively seen as the frontrunner in the chief ministerial race. A 5-time MLA from Paravur in Ernakulam district, Satheesan has been vocal about his declare to the submit, and the broader political temper in the state seems to favour him.UDF allies are additionally strongly backing Satheesan, crediting him for main the opposition marketing campaign in opposition to Left authorities.Congress chief Ok P Noushad made the case for him as properly. “V D Satheesan’s contribution has been important as Chief of the Opposition and UDF chairman, making him naturally the frontrunner,” he mentioned.Ramesh ChennithalaRamesh Chennithala stays a senior chief whose expertise instructions respect. Nonetheless, he additionally led UDF throughout its complete defeat in the 2021 meeting election — a setback that finally led to his alternative as Chief of the Opposition by Satheesan.Reversing that call now, after Satheesan has delivered an electoral victory, may increase uncomfortable questions inside the get together over whether or not seniority is being prioritised over efficiency.Chennithala met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi earlier this week as consultations intensified. However the reminiscence of the 2021 defeat continues to weigh on his prospects, with rival camps repeatedly reminding excessive command of the loss below his management.Ok C VenugopalCongress basic secretary (organisation) Ok C Venugopal has additionally emerged as a robust contender in Kerala’s chief ministerial race. Venugopal enjoys the belief of get together excessive command and has turn into one of Rahul Gandhi’s closest organisational aides in current years.Apart from overseeing get together affairs, he additionally handles ground coordination in Parliament and maintains communication with INDIA bloc allies.Nonetheless, questions stay over whether or not Rahul Gandhi can afford to spare Venugopal from his present organisational position. One other issue working in opposition to him is that he didn’t contest the meeting elections.Legally, Venugopal can nonetheless turn into chief minister and enter the meeting inside six months via a bypoll. However Congress had earlier taken a principled stand that no sitting MP would contest the meeting election.Celebration sources advised PTI that the ultimate name on whether or not an MP will be made chief minister rests with excessive command.A fourth identify — Shashi Tharoor — has additionally surfaced in Delhi circles, although he’s nonetheless largely considered as a nationwide determine reasonably than somebody deeply concerned in state administration.KPCC points notices to fifteen leadersAmid escalating tensions over the management concern, Congress has initiated disciplinary proceedings in opposition to leaders who organised public demonstrations in help of Satheesan.KPCC issued present-trigger notices to round 15 leaders for allegedly defying directives from excessive command.KPCC president Sunny Joseph is learnt to have submitted a report back to AICC basic secretary Deepa Dasmunshi highlighting what the get together described as “critical indiscipline” by leaders who organised protest marches regardless of clear directions from AICC and KPCC.These served notices embody KPCC member Chempazhanthy Anil and INTUC Thiruvananthapuram district president V R Prathapan. Others embody Kaimanam Prabhakaran, T Sanaj, Attingal Unnikrishnan and Ambiraj. Some leaders from Idukki district have additionally obtained notices.Protests in help of Satheesan continued on Saturday.In the meantime, Congress staff throughout Kerala started eradicating flex boards and posters put up in help of Satheesan, Venugopal and Chennithala after the three leaders collectively appealed to supporters to finish public campaigns linked to the chief ministerial choice.What’s subsequent Quickly after the election outcomes, Kerala Congress handed a decision authorising the excessive command to determine the chief ministerial decide. The resolution now rests with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) management.Satheesan, Chennithala and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph flew to Delhi on Friday night time. Venugopal, who is predicated in the capital, was already there. Congress observers have submitted their report back to get together president Mallikarjun Kharge.Congress brainstorming sessionCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held brainstorming classes on Saturday.The assembly was convened by Kharge at his residence, the place Rahul Gandhi, Dasmunshi, Ok C Venugopal, and senior Kerala leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan had been current, in addition to Kerala Congress unit chief Sunny Joseph and senior observers, Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik.Sources mentioned the get together was eager to keep away from displeasing leaders neglected of the race and was making an attempt to evolve a consensus. “In any other case, the choice would have been introduced by now,” a supply mentioned. Sonia Gandhi was additionally consulted by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in the course of the deliberations.Prime management can also be learnt to have pulled up state leaders for permitting public campaigns in favour of particular person contenders.AICC basic secretary in-charge of the state Deepa Dasmunshi mentioned, “Very quickly, in due time, we are going to get our ultimate resolution by our excessive command,”“twenty third Might is the final day. I believe in due time, we are going to get the ultimate resolution by our excessive command and we’re ready for that. In due time, the due course of motion shall be taken. The ultimate resolution needs to be taken by the excessive command,” she mentioned.