‘If backed KC, then will have to forget Wayanad’; poster threat against Rahul and Priyanka

WAYANAD: As the dispute over Kerala’s chief minister intensifies, poster protests have surfaced in Wayanad against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Posters written in English were stuck near the Wayanad DCC office. The posters said that if they support K C Venugopal, the people of Kerala will never forgive them and that Wayanad could turn into another Amethi.

The posters warn that protests will intensify if the high command decides to select K C Venugopal as the chief minister. The posters say that K C Venugopal is Rahul Gandhi’s baggage carrier. The posters further said that Rahul and Priyanka can forget Wayanad and that they will not win there again. Political centres see these posters as a sign that group squabbles within the Congress party are being dragged onto the streets.

Meantime, it is expected that Kerala’s new chief minister may be announced today. The high command is likely to announce the chief minister before noon. Crucial discussions regarding the selection of the chief minister continued in Delhi yesterday as well. Reports say that majority of the leaders invited by the high command supported K C Venugopal.

While supporters of K C Venugopal believe the high command is likely to back him, the camps led by V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala still hope that no unilateral decision will be made. Meantime, Rahul Gandhi had earlier clarified that he holds no prior preference in the discussions.