The Congress on Thursday announced the selection of VD Sathisan as Kerala’s chief minister over its senior leader and MP KC Venugopal, who was the preferred choice of the party high command. Even when Sathisean’s chances looked slim, he refused to back down from the fight for the top post, reminding the party leadership of the role he played in reviving the foothold of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the state.
Behind the scenes of how Kerala’s new chief minister was chosen after the Congress’ landslide victory in the state, KC Venugopal had a clear advantage – the “overwhelming support” of party legislators, parliamentarians and other senior leaders. However, Sathisan told Rahul Gandhi during their meeting on May 10 that Venugopal, the party’s general secretary (organisation), was using his influence as a key figure in the party structure, Hindustan Times had reported earlier.
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Sathisan also reminded Gandhi that it was he who kept the party and its allies strong in the state legislature after their loss in 2021.
“He became the face of the United Democratic Front”
What worked for Sathisean, the leader of the opposition in the outgoing Kerala Legislative Assembly who has been fighting for his right, was the support he got from Congress allies under the United Democratic Front.
“All UDF voters want Satheesan,” NK Premachandran, RSP MP (UDF member), told HT.
He said Sathisan became the face of the alliance as the leader of the opposition and raised key issues in the assembly.
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“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,” he said.
Another key member of the UDF, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), also rallied behind Satheesan and even took credit for the alliance’s victory in the state.
“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.
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In addition, as the Congress began to consider who should be chosen as chief minister in Kerala, public anger in the state became public when warring factions of the party staged protests in support of their favored leaders. This helped the party leadership realize that Sathisean had more support on the ground.
Another major contender in the CM race, Ramesh Chennithala, withdrew from it a week before the party’s announcement.
After being selected to lead the state for the next five years, Sathisan credited Venugopal and Chennithala for the grand victory in the state. Venugopal also congratulated him on being selected for the highest office in the state.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front won the Kerala Assembly elections by winning 104 of the 140 seats after defeating the CPI(M)-led Liberal Democratic Front a decade later.
