Who Will Be Kerala’s CM? A Stalemate Ensues; Sonia Gandhi to Now Make the Final Call After 3 Hours of Deliberation in Delhi

New Delhi: The Congress party has secured a resounding victory in Kerala, but a major dilemma has now arisen. The party faces the task of selecting one of its three key leaders to serve as the Chief Minister (CM). No names have been officially announced yet. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi held a lengthy meeting in Delhi on Saturday to address this issue. During this meeting, the three primary contenders for the Chief Minister’s post—K.C. Venugopal, Chennithala, and V.D. Satheesan—presented arguments in support of their respective candidacies.

Ultimately, all the leaders affirmed that they would abide by whatever decision is taken by the party’s High Command. According to sources, the majority of MLAs in Kerala are in support of Venugopal; however, the final decision will be made only after securing the consensus of other senior party stalwarts. Rahul Gandhi also faces the critical decision of whether to appoint Venugopal as Kerala’s Chief Minister or to retain him by his side as the party’s General Secretary (Organization).

The Congress High Command indirectly advised all the leaders to rein in the poster campaigns and demonstrations being staged by their supporters in their favor. Expressing strong displeasure over this matter, Rahul Gandhi asserted that such activities—occurring in the wake of a victory across so many seats—are damaging the party’s public image. Sonia Gandhi has been authorized to take the final call regarding the selection of Kerala’s new Chief Minister, and it was decided that the name would be officially announced by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge himself.

Congress leaders are hopeful that a decision regarding the name of Kerala’s new Chief Minister will be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours. Earlier, following the meeting, Congress leader Deepa Das Munshi stated that the decision regarding the Chief Minister would be announced “very soon.” However, the exact timeline remains unclear. May 23rd marks the deadline for forming the government in Kerala. Signs of internal dissent were also evident within the Congress party, as all three faction leaders are vying for the Chief Minister’s post. In the Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress-led UDF (United Democratic Front) has secured a resounding victory. The electorate has chosen them with a massive majority. Now, it is up to the Congress to decide who will be the Chief Minister. However, the UDF comprises three main constituent parties, and each of them wishes to see its own leader appointed as Chief Minister. Consequently, reaching a decision has become a difficult task.

Who are the leaders of these three parties?
The Congress has its own set of leaders. The second party—the Marxist Communist Party (CPI(M))—has its own distinct leader. The third party is the Kerala Congress, which also has its own leader. Each party desires that its respective leader become the Chief Minister; hence, arriving at a consensus is proving to be challenging.

What steps did the Congress take?
On Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge convened a lengthy meeting. All key leaders of the Congress were present at this meeting, including Rahul Gandhi. Senior Kerala leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan were also in attendance, as was Sunny Joseph, the chief of the Congress’s Kerala unit. The meeting lasted for over three hours, during which everyone shared their respective views regarding who should be appointed as Chief Minister.

What was announced following the meeting?
After the meeting concluded, AICC General Secretary Deepa Das Munshi addressed the media. She stated that Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi would take the final decision regarding the Chief Minister’s appointment. She further added that this decision would be announced “very soon.”

Why is May 23rd significant?
May 23rd marks the deadline for forming the government in Kerala. This implies that the Chief Minister must be designated—and must take the oath of office—by May 23rd. Should this fail to happen, the Governor is empowered to take appropriate action in accordance with electoral regulations.

What action did the legislators take?
All Congress legislators signed a resolution. This resolution formally authorizes the Congress leadership to make the final decision regarding the choice of Chief Minister. In other words, the legislators have pledged to abide by whatever decision Kharge and Rahul ultimately make.

What happens next?
At this moment, no one knows exactly when the Chief Minister will be announced. Deepa Das Munshi has merely stated that everything will be finalized “very soon.” However, the absolute deadline remains May 23rd. Top Congress leaders Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are deliberating. They will take a decision keeping everyone’s sentiments in mind.