Kerala CM Mystery Continues, Congress Summons Leaders

New Delhi: The suspense over Kerala’s next Chief Minister continues even a week after the United Democratic Front (UDF) registered a massive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. Amid growing pressure to complete the government formation process, the Congress high command has urgently summoned several senior Kerala leaders to Delhi for further consultations.

Although the election results were declared on May 4, the Congress leadership has still not announced the name of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, triggering intense political discussions within the party and among its allies.

Delay Fuels Political Speculation

The Congress-led UDF secured a sweeping mandate in the Kerala Assembly elections, but the delay in selecting the Chief Minister has created uncertainty within political circles. The party high command is yet to take a final call, even as internal lobbying and factional discussions continue in New Delhi.

Senior Kerala Leaders Called to Delhi

The Congress leadership has called several senior Kerala leaders to the national capital to gather their views on government formation and the Chief Ministerial choice. Senior Congress leader and newly elected MLA K. Muraleedharan has been asked to reach the AICC headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday.

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Speaking to the media, Muraleedharan said that a decision on Kerala’s next Chief Minister is expected within the next 48 hours.

Apart from him, KPCC vice-president AP Anil Kumar, Shafi Parambil, PC Vishnunath, and senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan have also been invited for discussions.

Congress Under Pressure as Assembly Term Nears End

With the term of the Kerala Assembly ending on May 23, pressure is mounting on the Congress leadership to complete the process quickly.

The frontrunners for the Chief Minister’s post reportedly include Ramesh Chennithala, KC Venugopal, and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi recently held detailed discussions with Satheesan, Venugopal, Chennithala, KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, and Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi.

According to sources, a majority of MLAs are believed to be backing KC Venugopal, while VD Satheesan is considered more popular among the public.

‘Part of the Democratic Process’

Defending the delay in the decision-making process, Ramesh Chennithala said on Monday that the consultations are part of the party’s internal democratic system.

“We have conveyed whatever we wanted to say to the high command. They have listened to our views, and now the final decision will be taken by them. Whatever decision the high command takes will be accepted by Congress and UDF workers in Kerala,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kerala leaders and Deepa Dasmunshi have appealed to party workers not to organize protests or put up flex boards in support of any individual leader in the Chief Ministerial race.

Unease Among Allies?

Despite the landslide victory, reports suggest that some UDF allies are growing uncomfortable with the prolonged delay in government formation.

In the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the UDF crossed the two-thirds majority mark by winning 102 seats. Congress secured 63 seats, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) won 22 seats, Kerala Congress bagged 8 seats, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party secured 3 seats.

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