Satheesan becomes CM, who defied NSS-SNDP pressure

Kottayam: V D Satheesan will be the first Congress leader to assume chief minister post without the blessings of leaders of two prominent community-based organisations — SNDP and NSS. While NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair openly expressed his dislike towards Satheesan, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan even called Satheesan a joker and buffoon before softening his stand against him after the elections.Unlike other politicians, especially those in Congress, Satheesan has never given importance to the two leaders. Even when Congress leaders paid visits to these leaders, Satheesan did not follow such practices. He even maintained a calm and dignified silence following Natesan's insulting remarks. It is evident from their responses that both the leaders did not want Satheesan to become the CM and threw their weight behind the other two – K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Nair even made a last-minute effort to express displeasure of Satheesan being chosen as the CM as he met reporters on Wednesday evening and criticised the intervention of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in the internal matter of Congress. Even after party high command declared Satheesan as chief minister, Nair told reporters that the selection was not made in a democratic way following the existing guidelines and precedent. He, however, tried to clarify that he was saying this because all the three contenders were eligible. Nair blamed Congress high command for the manner in which they approached the selection. In an apparent dig at IUML, Nair said Congress should have been left free to decide the CM. Continuing his League bashing, Nair said that IUML will now tighten its grip over govt. He also said that the possibility of implementing social justice by new govt is very less. Natesan too refused to give any credit to Satheesan after he was chosen as CM. He praised Venugopal and said lady luck continues to elude Chennithala. He told reporters at his residence in Kanichukulangara that it was Venugopal who is the architect of UDF win. Designing tactics, election funds, organising people were all Venugopal's merit, while an experienced person like Chennithala fell victim to groupism in the party. Both the leaders will now put the approach of the League in the new govt under scanner. NSS has already put Satheesan under pressure by demanding Congress take over education department. Natesan calls Nair's opinion on cm selection untimely: Natesan stated that NSS general secretary's opinion about the pressure from coalition parties in choosing CM is untimely. "I do not agree with everything. Such opinions should not be expressed after everything happened; they should have been mentioned earlier," he said.He also blamed Nair for ‘ruining' Chennithala's future by demanding key post for him in the Oommen Chandy govt in 2011. He also rejected speaking against the Muslim community. "I have spoken only against League. They campaigned against me. One should also observe what IUML does when it comes to power," he added.