The Congressman who grew up through reading and oratory; When V D Satheesan becomes opposition leader surpassing Chennithala, his political master…….

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: V D Satheesan is one of few Congress leaders who have deep knowledge and vociferous reading habit. His vast knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of economics have enabled him to take clear stands on various financial and environmental matters concerning the state. The political life of this Congress leader who hails from Nettoor, Kochi is nothing but the extension of his student life, when he travelled across Kerala and participated and won prizes in various debates and elocution competitions. The leaders who encountered the sharp words and ideas of Satheesan include CPM stalwarts like V S Achuthanandan and former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac.

Satheesan who often engages in battle with the party leadership over political issues is a staunch believer of secularism. Even when he had proved his mantle as an efficient MLA, the party was reluctant to give him higher positions and responsibilities. In 2011, Satheeshan was one of the leaders who were considered for ministership but as portfolios were shared on the basis of group commitments, he was disappointed at last. At one point of time, he was even considered for the post of KPCC chief but he had to move away for V M Sudheeran to take up the party’s top post.

Following the humiliating defeat, the party chose him to be its leader in the assembly as Satheesan had earned the faith of party workers and leaders alike.

He is also going to take up the post of an opposition leader by surpassing Ramesh Chennithala who was his political master from his inception days in politics. Along with defending against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the success of Satheesan as an opposition leader lies at preventing internal wars within the party.

V D Satheeshan’s electoral career began in VAdakkan Paravoor in the 1996 assembly elections, in which he failed miserably. But later from 2001, his name became synonymous with Vadakkan Paravoor. Even though LDF fielded even prominent leaders like Pannyan Raveendran, they had to fail in front of the goodwill earned by Satheesan.

Later, in a few years even Satheesan’s contenders accepted him as a responsible legislator who always does his homework before participating in debates and asking questions in the assembly. His fame further echoed in Kerala society, when he defeated then finance minister Thomas Isaac in the lottery debate back in 2010. The issue which put the then LDF government in a defenceless spot, revealed the links of Santiago Martin. Satheesan lashed out at the government over the irregularities in the case. Due to Satheesan’s continuous fight for a probe over the issue, then chief minister V S Achuthanandan was forced to call for a CBI probe which was later rejected by the official faction in CPM.

Even in the last Pinarayi Vijayan government, it was Satheesan who fought against the government on issues of KIIFB and Masala Bonds. Now when Satheesan enters into the assembly as opposition leader, the group leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chenithala will be sitting behind him in leading the opposition in the assembly.