Race for Kerala Chief Minister: AICC observers begin consultations in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Newly elected Congress MLAs are set to voice their preferences for the state’s next Chief Minister today during a meeting with AICC observers. Observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken will conduct individual consultations at Indira Bhavan to gauge the consensus among the 63-member legislative body.

A formal parliamentary party meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM. The observers intend to meet each MLA separately to ensure a confidential and thorough feedback process, which is expected to conclude by the end of the day.

Key contenders and internal lobbying

The discussions primarily revolve around three senior leaders: K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satheesan. Intense lobbying is reportedly underway as supporters of each candidate attempt to consolidate support among the legislators.

• For K.C. Venugopal: A.P. Anil Kumar and Mathew Kuzhalnadan are actively coordinating with MLAs.
• For V.D. Satheesan: Support is being mobilised by Mohammed Shiyas and Hibi Eden, with N. Sakthan already declaring public support for Satheesan.
• For Ramesh Chennithala: T.J. Vinod, I.C. Balakrishnan, and Anwar Sadath are leading the outreach. Chennithala notably met with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi yesterday.

Deepa Dasmunshi, the AICC official in charge of Kerala, met with Sunny Joseph and P.C. Vishnunath yesterday. However, her participation in today’s consultation remains uncertain, as the Satheesan faction has reportedly suggested she be excluded from the process.

Selection process

The High Command has outlined a multi-step approach to finalise the leadership:

1. Reporting to the High Command: After recording the views of the MLAs, the observers will submit a detailed report to the AICC leadership. Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will then consult with veteran leaders, including A.K. Antony, and seek the opinions of UDF coalition partners.
2. High-Level Meetings in Delhi: KPCC President Sunny Joseph, V.D. Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala will be summoned to Delhi shortly. K.C. Venugopal will also participate in these final deliberations.
3. Final Announcement: The official declaration of the Chief Minister will be made only after these comprehensive discussions in the national capital.