High Command cracks whip: Rahul Gandhi slams ‘show of strength’ in Kerala

NEW DELHI: Five days after the assembly election results were declared, the deadlock over the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Congress party in Kerala remains unresolved. Marathon discussions held by the Congress High Command with state leaders on Friday concluded without a final decision.

Following the meeting, AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunsi, stated that the High Command maintains the final authority and noted that the party has until May 23 to finalise the appointment. She added that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will jointly announce the chosen candidate.

Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi expressed strong displeasure over the public displays of factionalism and the "show of strength" by supporters of various leaders in Kerala. During discussions with senior leaders K.C. Venugopal, V.D. Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala, Rahul Gandhi reportedly made it clear that a declaration is impossible under the current volatile atmosphere. The High Command has issued a directive to immediately cease all public demonstrations, stating that the situation will be closely monitored before any official announcement is made.

Following the High Command’s firm intervention, Venugopal, Satheesan, and Chennithala issued a joint plea for restraint and party discipline. The leaders explicitly directed supporters to cease all public demonstrations, whether in favour of or against any specific candidate, and ordered the immediate removal of flex boards and posters across the state. Emphasising that the party's integrity and the will of the people must remain the highest priority, they urged the cadre to end all public displays of friction immediately. In compliance with these instructions, party workers began dismantling partisan displays across various districts, paving the way for a potential announcement as early as tomorrow.