Kharge, Rahul to announce next CM soon: Sunny Joseph

Kozhikode: KPCC president Sunny Joseph said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi would soon announce the next chief minister of the state.Joseph told reporters in Kannur after returning from New Delhi, where discussions were held between Congress high command and three chief ministerial aspirants — V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K C Venugopal — Joseph said he did not see the need for another round of talks with state leaders on the issue.Joseph said the discussions had been positive and that the party high command would announce its decision shortly."Everyone has been asked to refrain from controversial moves and there has been reflection at the ground level. A good decision will be made and everyone will move forward together," said Joseph who, however, declined to specify a date.Responding to another question, Joseph said the criteria for selecting the chief minister were already before the party high command. Asked whether the matter would be discussed with UDF constituents, Joseph said that decision rested with the party leadership.