Congress high command weighs Kerala CM pick

T'PURAM: Congress high command stepped up deliberations to select the next chief minister as intense lobbying gathered momentum within the party following its emphatic win in assembly elections. Sources said the process of selecting the CM could take a week, with LS opposition leader Rahul Gandhi taking the final decision. Congress leadership has not ruled out any candidate as it is focussed on building consensus and ensuring a smooth transition to form the govt. With Congress securing 63 seats, the leadership must balance competing claims while preserving internal unity.Opposition leader VD Satheesan, who led UDF for the past five years and fashioned the landslide victory, emerged as the frontrunner with key allies, including Indian Union Muslim League, supporting him for the top post. Ramesh Chennithala too asserted his claim, arguing that experience and seniority should be key factors in the selection process. At the same time, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal is mobilizing support within the party, with his camp claiming that a significant number of MLAs and MPs are supporting their leader.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul are expected to adopt a consultative approach before taking a final decision. A meeting chaired by Kharge, in the presence of Rahul, is likely to appoint AICC observers, who will visit Kerala in the coming days. They will interact with all 63 Congress MLAs, party MPs and senior leaders to assess the prevailing sentiment within the party.Pressure is mounting on AICC to take a final call as any move to appoint a candidate other than Satheesan or Chennithala could trigger an intense internal tussle with both leaders unlikely to participate in the cabinet formation under such a scenario.AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said a decision will be taken soon and party leaders are trying to reach a consensus. Party sources indicated that the high command would weigh the opinion of MLAs alongside broader political considerations, including alliance dynamics, before taking a call.This triangular contest has heightened concerns over potential factionalism. While Venugopal's camp claims it has the support of a substantial number of MLAs, Satheesan's camp is emphasizing broader public sentiment and political acceptability. Meanwhile, Chennithala pointed out that the high command appointed Satheesan as the opposition leader in 2021 despite the sentiment prevailing within the Congress, reinforcing his argument on leadership decisions. Party insiders fear that internal contests could spill into the public domain if they are not managed carefully.Although the views of coalition partners will be considered, Congress leaders made it clear that the party is under no obligation to concede ground, given its independent majority. At the same time, there is a push to ensure that the final decision commands wide acceptance and avoids internal divisions.