Memory Loss: Chennithala Hits Back at Modi's Jibe over Kerala CM Delay

Responding to PM Modi’s remarks on the Congress party’s delay in finalising Kerala’s Chief Minister, Chennithala said the BJP itself took 50 days to announce its Chief Minister in Delhi.

“PM Modi should remember that it took him 50 days to announce the Chief Minister in Delhi. Only now have I realised that the Prime Minister seems to have memory loss,” Chennithala told reporters.

He said the Indian National Congress follows a democratic process and does not function in an “authoritarian” manner like the BJP, where, according to him, decisions are taken solely by PM Modi and Amit Shah.

“The Indian National Congress is a democratic party, not an authoritarian one. That is why the high command said it would hold discussions with all of us and take a democratic decision,” he added.

On the leadership issue in Kerala, Chennithala said party observers had consulted MLAs and senior leaders, including Sunny Joseph, V. D. Satheesan, K. C. Venugopal and himself, and that the party is now awaiting the high command’s final decision.

“A decision will be made as soon as possible,” he said.

Earlier, PM Modi had criticised the Congress party over its delay in naming a Chief Minister for Kerala, alleging that Congress governments are often consumed by internal power struggles.

Referring to the reported tussle in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar, PM Modi alleged that Congress focuses more on internal disputes than governance.

The Congress-led UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, but the party has not yet announced its Chief Ministerial candidate. Leaders including V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala are considered key contenders for the post.

Meanwhile, KPCC President Sunny Joseph recently said the final decision on Kerala’s next Chief Minister would be taken by the party high command in Delhi.