19 MLAs support Ramesh Chennithala to lead Opposition; VD Satheesan got two votes including his own

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 19 Congress MLAs supported Ramesh Chennithala in a meeting between Congress High Command representatives and MLAs on the issue of who should be the Leader of the Opposition. Of the 21 Congress MLAs, 19 MLAs urged that Ramesh Chennithala should continue as opposition leader. Ramesh Chennithala's achievements and efforts as the Leader of the Opposition for the last five years have helped him.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy nominated Ramesh Chennithala to lead the party in the Assembly. Meanwhile, VD Satheesan, who nominated himself as the opposition leader, only managed to get the support of one MLA.

High Command representatives Mallikarjun Kharge and V Vaithilingam asked the Congress MLAs not to isolate Ramesh Chennithala, who had exposed the government's corruption in the last five years.