Congress struggles for consensus as CM hopefuls push claims; party warns Kerala netas over protests

NEW DELHI: Amid a strong claim of Kerala leader V D Satheesan to the CM's post, Congress brass Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Saturday brainstormed the selection of the next leader in the state, while hearing out the three aspirants that include K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.

Venugopal is a strong contender for the top job.

The party also lashed out at the protest marches and social media campaign taken out by factional supporters, widely viewed as a reference to the actions of the Satheesan camp targeting Venugopal. The crucial meeting included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and state president Sunny Joseph. AICC state incharge Deepa Dasmunshi said, "A decision will be taken in due course."

Though Congress-led UDF has won Kerala by a landslide, hard bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the top post has created suspense over the last few days. Satheesan - who as the LoP was the face of the party for the last five years - has been vocal in his claim to the CM's post, and a general atmosphere in the state, too, exists in his favour.

Congress partners in UDF too are strongly backing Satheesan whom they credit for leading the battle against the Left front govt.

While AICC observers Maken and Wasnik, who met the state legislators Thursday, found that an overwhelming bloc of newly-elected MLAs support Rahul Gandhi confidant Venugopal, they are also said to have spoken about factoring in the "public sentiment". They briefed Kharge and Rahul first, before the top duo met the CM claimants separately.

Sources said the party does not want to displease any of the leaders who are left out, and is keen to evolve a consensus. "Else the decision would have been announced by now," a source said. Importantly, Sonia Gandhi was also consulted by Kharge and Rahul. The top duo is learnt to have pulled up the state leaders for taking out campaigns on the leadership in their favour.