The Congress-led United Democratic Front returned to power in Kerala on May 4 after a decade of Left rule. However, the party has so far failed to select a candidate for the state’s chief minister.
While the suspense continues, several party leaders headed to the national capital to discuss and choose the new leadership of Kerala, even as most of them remained tight-lipped on who could take up the position.
The discussions are scheduled to take place today as former Kerala Congress presidents K Muraleedharan and VM Sudhiran have confirmed that they will be in Delhi for discussions on the invitation of the high command.
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Sudhiran, who served as the party’s state unit chief from 2014 to 2017, said he was surprised when the Congress high command called him. “It came as a surprise when they (AICC) called me. I have booked a flight to Delhi tomorrow. I assume I will be asked about the current political atmosphere in the state. I will give clear answers to the questions they ask me,” he said, as Hindustan Times reported earlier.
However, Muraleedharan gave a timeline and said on Monday that a decision on who will become Kerala’s chief minister is expected in the next 48 hours, meaning that by Wednesday, the Congress may announce its choice for the top job. Muraleedharan won from Vattiyurkavu constituency in the Kerala Assembly elections. He served as Kerala Congress president from 2001 to 2004.
“When the two ACC observers came to Kerala last week, I conveyed my opinion. I will stick to the same opinion. I don’t know what they (ACC) will ask for. Whatever the decisions of the top leadership are, all leaders are bound to accept them,” he said.
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Who are among the front-runners for the Kerala CM post?
Since the Congress-led bloc in Kerala won 102 of the 140 seats in the state assembly, several names have emerged as potential candidates for the chief minister’s post. This includes senior Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal, and other leaders – VD Sathisan and Ramesh Chennithala.
BJP targets Congress over delay
Amid the delay in taking a key decision, the Congress came under fire from the BJP with Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that the party remained embroiled in an internal conflict instead of ruling the state.
Another BJP leader, Muraleedharan, who won from Kerala’s Kazhakoottam constituency in the Assembly polls, also criticized the Congress for the delay and said it was disrespectful to the people of the state.
“This shows that the Congress does not care about the people of the state. Even after getting a broad mandate, the Congress could not come up with a unanimous name. It shows that the Congress members are after power and not for the people. The Congress leadership at the national and state levels does not care about the people of Kerala. It is a huge disrespect for the people of the state,” news agency ANI quoted Muraleedharan as saying.
(With inputs from Vishnu Pharma Agencies)
