Key meeting likely today as ally IUML sounds warning
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: There was no decision on Monday by the Congress on the next chief minister of Kerala, the only state in the latest election cycle going through such uncertainty, prompting key ally IUML to warn that the delay could have political repercussions.
The party leadership is learnt to have decided to hold discussions with former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents before finalising a name. Those called by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to Delhi for discussions, likely on Tuesday, included MM Hassan, VM Sudheeran, Mullapally Ramachandran and K Muraleedharan, besides veteran leader and Kannur Lok Sabha MP K Sudhakaran, sources said.
“Discussions will also be held with former defence minister and party veteran AK Antony, who served as KPCC president between 1996 and 2001, to arrive at a decision within a day or two,” a person familiar with the developments told PTI.
Uncertainty continued in party circles on Monday, two days after Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi held discussions with the three contenders for the top post – senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and leader of Opposition in the outgoing Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in charge of the southern state, Deepa Dasmunsi, also attended the meeting.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, expressed displeasure over the situation. The party’s Malappuram district general secretary P Abdul Hameed said the delay had already caused dissatisfaction among party workers and the public.
“The decision has already been delayed. If it is prolonged further, there will be repercussions. We hope the AICC leadership realises this,” he told reporters.
This is not the first time that the Congress has kept the decision on picking a chief minister hanging. Intense lobbying was witnessed when the Congress won the Karnataka polls in 2023, with the two top contenders – Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar – lobbying hard for the top post. Finally, a compromise was reached, and Siddaramaiah was named chief minister with Shivakumar as his deputy.
Such lobbying and delay were also witnessed in 2018, when the Congress won Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia were chief minister aspirants in Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot were the front-runners in Rajasthan. Eventually, a compromise was reached after days of uncertainty, and while Kamal Nath was chosen in Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot got the top job in Rajasthan with Pilot as his deputy.
People across Kerala were questioning the delay, Hameed said, claiming that women voters from the district were calling party leaders to ask why they had been asked to vote for the UDF.
“There is dissatisfaction everywhere. People are raising this issue wherever we go, even at weddings and funerals,” he said.
Party leaders in Thiruvananthapuram have indicated that the high command is waiting for the political atmosphere in Kerala, which witnessed demonstrations and poster wars between the supporters of Satheesan and Venugopal last week, to calm down before making an announcement.
Hameed said Kerala was politically different from north Indian states and prolonged indecision would not be accepted by its politically aware voters.
Asked about the delay, a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named, said, “The Assembly expires only on May 23. So there is no hurry; “why worry?”
