Venugopal On Board, But His Supporters Demand A Probe Into Attempts To Defame Him
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Venugopal said the party was bigger than any individual. “I am a staunch Congress worker. The party and the people come first. I will always respect the high command’s decision and remain a loyal Congressman,” he stated
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: K C Venugopal, who was the front-runner for the top post, accepted the AICC’s decision to appoint V D Satheeshan as the next chief minister of Kerala.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Venugopal said the party was bigger than any individual. “I am a staunch Congress worker. The party and the people come first. I will always respect the high command’s decision and remain a loyal Congressman,” he stated.
He urged his supporters to accept the leadership’s choice, made after considering all perspectives. The AICC general secretary added that Satheeshan and his government would receive full support as they take charge.
“There will be a government in Kerala that meets the expectations of the people,” he said. Venugopal, backed by most of the 63 MLAs—a fact confirmed by AICC general secretary for Kerala, Deepa Dasmunshi—lost out due to Satheeshan’s popularity and the stance taken by UDF allies, including the Indian Union Muslim League. Understandably, Venugopal avoided answering whether the leadership had bowed to pressure from the allies.
Senior leaders like A K Antony and V M Sudheeran had urged the AICC leadership to avoid a by-election. Since Venugopal is the Lok Sabha MP from Alappuzha, making him CM would have meant two by-elections – one for his parliamentary seat and another for the Assembly. This would require him to resign from the Lok Sabha and a sitting MLA to step down for his entry into the state assembly. Leaders felt that holding a byelection now could be risky, recalling how V Muraleedharan, son of K Karunakaran, had to quit as minister in Oommen Chandy’s government after losing the 2004-05 byelection from Wadakanchery. A similar setback for Venugopal could have been a major embarrassment for both the state and the party’s central leadership.
The decision to appoint V D Satheeshan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala disappointed supporters of AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, who was also a top contender for the post. While Venugopal’s camp accepted the AICC’s decision, they claimed there had been a deliberate effort by certain groups to tarnish the general secretary’s image. “We stand by the AICC’s decision, but the party and the new Chief Minister should investigate who was behind the smear campaign against Venugopal,” said newly elected MLA Pazhakulam Madhu. Echoing this sentiment, MLA Naseer alleged there was an organized attempt to portray Venugopal negatively and undermine his key role in the UDF’s victory.
