New KPCC President before July 20th? KC-Rahul Gandhi meeting soon in New Delhi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With indications that the new Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president announcement would happen soon, a group of leaders within the Congress is working overtime to lay claim to the prized position. MPs and young MLAs are also in the fray. The move is to reach an agreement on the president before the Lok Sabha session on the 20th.

All eyes are on the yet-to-take-place meeting between AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary KC Venugopal with Rahul Gandhi, who is returning from his foreign trip. The first decision will be whether to consider people's representatives for this post. AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi, who is in charge of Kerala, spoke to senior leaders about this.

Many leaders opined that it would not be beneficial to pile up the additional burden of the KPCC president on a public representative. However, some others cited the example of K. Sudhakaran, Ramesh Chennithala, and Sunny Joseph, who all have held the position of President while remaining as public representatives.

Kodikunnil Suresh has been in the limelight for a long time with KPCC president's ambition. Suresh also maintains a good relationship with the AICC president. If he succeeds in getting the support of veteran A.K. Antony, it is a given that the President post would fall into Suresh’s hands. But the opportunity will only come if there is a decision to consider people's representatives for this position.

If there is communal consideration and the support of the national leadership, then Anto Antony MP is a likely choice.

Senior leader Adoor Prakash was also considered earlier. The names of V.S. Shivakumar, Benny Behanan, Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA and others also made it to the rumoured list. Joseph Vazhackan, a close associate of Ramesh Chennithala, is another person who approached the national leadership for the post of president. He also has the plus point of not being a people's representative. However, it is not known whether Joseph will get support from the KC faction.