Rahul Gandhi Holds Talks on Kerala CM Choice; Decision in 24 Hours
After meeting Rahul Gandhi, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that Rahul wanted to hear their views on certain matters, and he shared his opinion, adding that a decision would be announced soon.
Thiruvananthapuram: Hectic discussions continued in Delhi over the selection of the next Kerala Chief Minister, with Rahul Gandhi personally meeting top Congress leaders from Kerala to build a consensus. Most Kerala leaders who met him at Sonia Gandhi’s residence said a decision on the chief minister was likely to be announced on Wednesday. Rahul also met former KPCC presidents K Sudhakaran, K Muraledharan, and M M Hassan, as well as senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, KPCC working president A P Anil Kumar, P C Vishnunath, and Shabfi Parambil to gather their views on the matter.
After meeting Rahul Gandhi, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that Rahul wanted to hear their views on certain matters, and he shared his opinion, adding that a decision would be announced soon. K Muraleedharan expressed a similar sentiment, noting that he had conveyed all he wished to and stressing that the content of the discussion mattered more than its length, with a decision expected within 24 hours. Reports suggest Rahul asked Kerala leaders about the events that led supporters from different factions to display their strength through street protests, meetings, and poster campaigns.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, former Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, the front runners for the CM post, are actively pushing their claims. Venugopal is said to have the backing of most of the party’s 63 MLAs, which his camp sees as his key advantage. Satheeshan, who served as opposition leader for the past five years, led the UDF from the front, securing wins in most byelections, Lok Sabha polls, local body elections, and ultimately the assembly elections. After the victory, he recalled, “Soon after becoming opposition leader in 2021, I promised Sonia Gandhi ji and Rahul ji that I would do whatever it takes to bring Congress back to power in Kerala with a thumping majority. I have fulfilled that promise.”
Interestingly, he was the only senior Congress leader in Kerala who predicted more than 100 seats for the UDF. Veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala feels he deserves the top post based on his vast experience as both a party organization man and an administrator, having served two terms as minister in the past. After meeting all top leaders in Kerala and speaking over the phone with a couple of them, Rahul Gandhi is set to meet Mallikarjun Kharge, who is expected to arrive in Delhi in the evening. The final decision on the CM issue will be made in consultation with Sonia Gandhi, with the announcement likely on Wednesday.
