During his 25-year career as an MP in Kerala, Vadasiri Damodaran Sathisan was not even a candidate for a ministerial post. But now, the 61-year-old is set to take oath as the next chief minister of the southern state, fending off a strong challenge from Congress (organisation) general secretary KC Venugopal.
Venugopal, who is widely considered a close confidant of Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, received “overwhelming support” from several party legislators, parliamentarians and senior leaders. When Congress observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken met the 63 Congress legislators on May 7, “there was overwhelming support for Venugopal,” a senior party leader said.
Days later, when Rahul Gandhi consulted nine senior Congress leaders from Kerala, six of them supported Venugopal and only two from Sathisan, leaders aware of the developments said. One of the leaders took a neutral stance.
Also Read: KC Venugopal’s first reaction after not being selected as Kerala manager: ‘I…’
But Sathisan did not give up. When he met Gandhi on May 10, the former Congress president recalled how he had revived the party after the 2021 debacle, raised key issues as Leader of the Opposition in the state, discouraged factionalism and alleged that Venugopal was using his influence as a key figure in the party structure. In a rare show of defiance, he stuck to his claim for the top job. Another candidate, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, quit the race last week.
“All UDF voters want Satheesan,” RSP MP N K Premachandran told HT. “In the last five years, he fought as a leader and became the face of the United Democratic Front. He was an innovator and did not join any group but had a strong stand on political issues. His focus was development, health and higher education.”
In the General Assembly elections, the United Democratic Front achieved its best victory in a generation. But with the Congress reluctant to announce the cabinet, protests broke out in Kerala. The warring factions took out marches in support of their leaders. On Tuesday, when Gandhi met former unit chiefs in Kerala, he asked them whether the protests were staged. He was told that there was a real outpouring of anger.
Also Read: VD Satheesan likely to be sworn in as Kerala CM on May 18; Appointment of 21 ministers
By Wednesday, when Gandhi met Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge for a final round of discussion, they had taken stock of public sentiment that was clearly in Sathisean’s favour.
“One of the key factors that Congress officers took into consideration was the by-elections that would be inevitable if Venugopal was made the chief minister. Venugopal had to win an Assembly seat for himself in the next six months and ensure Congress wins the Alappuzha Lok Sabha seat, which he is vacating,” said a Congress leader, requesting anonymity. Venugopal assured victory but the high command could not rule out the possibility of sabotage by Sathisan and his supporters.”
Another major factor was the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) support for Satyasan. The UDF, which won 22 seats, attributed the UDF’s success to Satheesan’s efforts to build a “UDF team” and asserted that the public mood was in Satheesan’s favour.
“We have asked the Congress to take into account public sentiment and how UDF supporters might react. We also said that a leader who enjoys mass support should become prime minister,” said IUML leader Mohammad Bashir.
A section of the Congress asserted that the high command dropped its plan to promote Venugopal as they felt it might go against the sentiments of the organisation. “It also sent a message that Gandhi respected the sentiments of the organization and that Venugopal had an important role to play at the national level.”
“The decision also helps Venugopal as he has avoided a bitter dispute in Kerala and strengthened his position with the central leadership,” a second Congress leader said. He also pointed to Gandhi’s decision to sack Captain Amarinder Singh six months before the Punjab elections in 2022 and appoint Charanjit Singh Channi as chief minister who cost the party the election, which the Aam Aadmi Party won.
After this announcement, the two leaders spoke in a conciliatory tone.
“both of them [Venugopal and Chennithala] They are my leaders and elders. I am younger than them. They helped a lot in achieving this wonderful victory. As an organization Secretary-General, it is [Venugopal] It helped a lot in the elections. It is his country. He is an MP from Kerala and Ramesh Chennithala was the chairman of the campaign committee. He’s been my leader for a long time. I was with him. The party has chosen me to lead Keralam. There are many factors. Why should the CLP meeting adopt a resolution to commission the President of Congress? Because the Congress president and other leaders have to discuss the matter with many others. “Many other factors need to be taken into consideration,” Sathisan said.
More than two hours after Satheesan’s name was announced, Venugopal tweeted, “Best wishes to my dear colleague Sheikh @vdsatheesan on being selected as the new CM of Kerala! We all welcome the decision of the Congress high command, the party is supreme. We will work together for the welfare and development of Kerala!”
Kerala party official Deepa Dasmunshi said that Karg had consulted both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. A senior leader said that the final decision was conveyed to Venugopal on Thursday morning when he went to meet Rahul at the latter’s residence.
Venugopal’s supporters said he played an important role and was a crucial support for Gandhi in Parliament. “He has emerged as the second-in-command of the Congress party in Parliament and is skillfully negotiating with the government and presidents. The Congress is undergoing an organizational revamp and Venugopal has a key role to play,” said the party’s general secretary, who requested anonymity.
