Internal fight is a characteristic very old with the Congress. Post Kerala win; the factionalism has come to the fore. Now the battle has come down to two camps from three and Rahul Gandhi's aide K C Venugopal is opposing V D Satheesans' claim to CM post.
Now, all eyes on Rahul Gandhi.
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| Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan & IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty. |
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, on Monday reiterated its displeasure over the delay in deciding the next chief minister, warning that the uncertainty could cause political repercussions.
The Congress-led front, which swept the recently concluded Assembly elections in Kerala, winning 102 seats, is yet to decide the CM.
Public protests have erupted projecting support for the contenders, including Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal.
Stating that the prolonged suspense has already caused dissatisfaction among party workers and the public, IUML Malappuram district general secretary P Abdul Hameed said, "The decision has already been delayed. If it is prolonged further, there will be repercussions. We hope the AICC leadership realises this."
He said people across the state were questioning the delay and claimed that even women voters from the district were calling party leaders to ask why they had been made to vote for the UDF.
Venugopal is not an elected MLA in the new House.
But he has the backing of high command (albeit indirect) and also some key allies.
Senior Congress leader and MLA-elect K Muraleedharan, a former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, has been asked to reach the AICC headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Muraleedharan said the decision on the Kerala Chief Minister was expected within the next 48 hours.
Apart from Muraleedharan, the party has also called KPCC vice presidents AP Anil Kumar, Shafi Parambil and PC Vishnunadh, along with senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, for discussions in Delhi.
The prolonged delay comes even as the term of the current Kerala Assembly is set to expire on May 23, increasing pressure on the Congress leadership to wrap up consultations quickly.
The IUML and around 30 MLAs are backing Satheesan. There is also politics around the prized Education portfolio which always has a special attraction in Kerala.
The portfolio is generally handled by Muslim League in the UDF Ministry but smaller allies do not want this to be repeated yet again. The smaller constituents of of UDF like Kerala Congress are backing Venugopal's claim apparently on this ground too.
However, Satheesan does not mind continuing with the practice. The Satheesan camp argument is earlier MPs were prevented by high command to contest and hence Venugopal's claims must be rejected outright. K C Venugopal too did not contest assembly election and if he goes as chief minister; there would be two by-elections in Kerala sooner than later - one assembly segment and other K C Venugopal's Lok Sabha constituency of Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.
If Venugopal goes to the state as chief minister, even the AICC will have a new general secretary (organisation). LoP Rahul Gandhi has to make up his mind on that score too.
Satheesan's claim is he was legislative wing leader in the last assembly and now after election win; there is no justification for his replacement and that too by a leader who is not elected MLA yet.
Another version is Rahul Gandhi's choice for the chief minister's post in Kerala is K C Venugopal.
Rahul Gandhi has been meeting Venugopal multiple times lately.
Posters deriding Venugopal were put up in some parts of the state allegedly with support from Satheesan.
ends
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