The Congress-led UDF’s victory in the Kerala Assembly elections has now given way to an intense battle over who will become the state's next Chief Minister, with supporters of senior leaders VD Satheesan and KC Venugopal openly flexing their muscles in Thiruvananthapuram.
Posters backing both leaders surfaced in the state capital on Thursday, with supporters demanding that their respective leaders be chosen for the top post. The public display of support has added a fresh layer of intrigue to the leadership tussle within the Kerala Congress unit after the UDF's return to power.
The power struggle comes even as the Congress high command has begun consultations with newly-elected MLAs to finalise the Chief Ministerial face.
AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken on Thursday held meetings with Congress legislators in Thiruvananthapuram to gather their views on the leadership question following the UDF’s victory in the Assembly polls.
While senior Congress leaders have so far maintained that the final decision will be taken by the party high command, the emergence of rival poster campaigns has intensified speculation over internal lobbying and factional manoeuvring within the party.
Both Satheesan and Venugopal are considered powerful contenders for the Chief Minister's post. The Congress is likely to announce its decision by May 10, Sunday.
Diana George is Associate Editor at Times Now, with over a decade of experience covering national and international news, crime, and local politics. S...View More
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