Thiruvananthapuram: With just a fortnight left for the results of the high-stakes Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress in the state is witnessing a murky internal debate over who would become chief minister if the United Democratic Front (UDF) comes to power.
Names doing the rounds in party circles and the media include AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal, Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala.
The unseemly debate, much to the discomfiture of the party leadership and cadre, was triggered by Congress MP and former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran.
Upset after the party high command denied him a ticket to contest the Assembly polls, Sudhakaran publicly stated that Venugopal would be the most suitable candidate for the top post.
His unsolicited endorsement surprised many, as he has not traditionally been an ardent supporter of Venugopal.
Several state leaders have expressed displeasure over Sudhakaran’s remarks, noting that they go against the party’s long-standing practice of leaving the decision on the chief minister to the high command.
Others believe that Sudhakaran’s statement was aimed at undercutting the prospects of Satheesan by triggering internal divisions.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest partner in the UDF, has also advised the Congress to avoid such debates at this critical stage.
Venugopal’s prospects dim
Be that as it may, there are reasons to believe that Venugopal’s chances of emerging as chief minister are limited, despite his proximity to Rahul Gandhi.
As AICC general secretary in charge of organisation, the party leadership may be reluctant to move him to state politics given the broader national context.
It may also be viewed as inappropriate to appoint someone who did not contest the Assembly election as chief minister, bypassing leaders who have been in the fray.
Additionally, the party had decided against allowing sitting MPs to contest the Assembly elections in Kerala.
These factors suggest that the choice may ultimately narrow down to Satheesan or Chennithala.
Satheesan, 63, has a strong claim, having led the UDF in the Assembly as Leader of the Opposition. If the electorate favours the UDF, he could claim credit for facilitating the coalition’s return to power after a decade.
Chennithala, 70, though senior and experienced, faces the disadvantage of not having led the UDF to victory during his tenure as Opposition Leader between 2016 and 2021.
Will it be a woman?
As politics often springs surprises, a dark horse could still emerge.
A woman candidate cannot be ruled out, especially as it may help the Congress counter the BJP’s criticism of the I.N.D.I.A bloc on women’s representation.
Significantly, Rahul Gandhi, at a campaign rally, expressed hope that Kerala would soon be led by a woman.
However, this was widely seen as a rhetorical statement aimed at addressing concerns over inadequate representation of women in candidate selection.
Among prominent women candidates is former MP Ramya Haridas (40).
Ultimately, all such possibilities remain speculative, as the final outcome will only be known when results are declared on May 4.
