New Delhi, May 13: Nearly ten days after the Kerala election results, the Congress party has announced that discussions regarding the Chief Ministerial candidate have been finalized, with an official announcement scheduled for Thursday.
A high-level meeting of Congress leaders took place in Delhi, attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and other senior leaders. Following the meeting, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh informed the media that the name of the new Chief Minister will be revealed on May 14.
He stated that the Congress high command has completed all discussions after being authorized by the members of the Congress Legislative Party in Kerala. The decision on who will be the next Chief Minister will be made on Thursday.
While opposition parties have criticized Congress for the delay in announcing the Chief Ministerial candidate, discontent is also brewing within the party. Posters have been put up near the district Congress office in Wayanad against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accusing them of attempting to install KC Venugopal as the Chief Minister despite the prevailing opposition in the state.
One poster reads, “Kerala will never forgive you.” Another states, “Wayanad will become the second Amethi,” referencing Rahul Gandhi’s defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Amethi.
Wayanad was once considered Rahul Gandhi’s safest political stronghold, and now Priyanka Gandhi serves as the MP from there. The dissent emerging from this region is seen as a significant political message for the Gandhi family.
The Congress-led UDF secured a majority by winning 102 out of 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly. However, the delay in deciding the Chief Ministerial candidate is causing embarrassment for the party. Even state Congress president Suni Joseph acknowledged that this delay is tarnishing the sheen of their victory.
Three major leaders are in contention for the Chief Minister position—KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala. However, in the final discussions, KC Venugopal is considered the strongest candidate, reportedly enjoying the support of over 50 Congress legislators.
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Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
