CLAIMS of popularity among voters, support from a majority of elected Congress MLAs and experience as the party’s seniormost leader are being cited as key factors by the camps of V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala as lobbying intensifies in the race for Keralam’s next Chief Minister. A decade after the party-led UDF stormed back to power in Keralam in the April 9 Assembly polls with a massive 102 seats, securing over one crore votes out of the 2.15 crore cast, all eyes are on the steps being taken by the Congress high command to decide who will lead the Government in the southern state. The high command has appointed senior leaders Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken as party observers for Keralam.

 

The process is complex, as factors such as religion and caste often play a crucial role in the formation of a Congress Government in Keralam, and the race for the chief ministership is among three members of the Nair community -- Chennithala, Venugopal and Satheesan. Interestingly, all three are disciples of the late Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister Karunakaran. While Chennithala and Satheesan were elected from their strongholds of Haripad and Paravoor, respectively, with thumping margins, Venugopal, the AICC General Secretary (organisation), did not contest the election. As speculation intensifies, the leaders have begun to display their strength and loyalty to the party high command.

 

Their supporters have stepped up campaigns for their respective leaders through extensive social media drives and by organising large receptions, such as those held for Satheesan in Ernakulam and Venugopal in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Venugopal and Chennithala on Wednesday reached the residence of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as the party is yet to decide on Keralamm’s next Chief Minister after the thumping victory in the Assembly elections.