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Congress Faces 'Venugopal Question' in Kerala CM Race After MP Ban U-Turn

Congress faces a politically uncomfortable question as MP K.C. Venugopal emerges as a frontrunner for Kerala's Chief Minister post, despite the party barring MPs from contesting the assembly elections. The decision has sparked criticism over political consistency, with supporters of V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala also pushing their candidates. K. Sudhakaran, who resisted the MP ban, remarked that Congress has 'hundreds of Satheesans'. The Congress legislature party has authorized party chief Mallikarjuna Kharge to decide, with the new CM expected by Sunday.

Key Points: Congress 'Venugopal Question' in Kerala CM Race

  • Congress high command barred MPs from Kerala assembly polls
  • Now MP K.C. Venugopal emerges as CM frontrunner
  • V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala also in contention
  • Decision expected by Sunday after Delhi meetings
2 min read

Congress faces the 'Venugopal Question' in Kerala power race

Congress faces backlash as MP K.C. Venugopal emerges CM frontrunner after barring MPs from Kerala assembly polls. Satheesan, Chennithala also in race.

"The Congress was a party with 'hundreds of Satheesans'. - K. Sudhakaran"

Thiruvananthapuram, May 7

Even before the Congress high command settles on Kerala's next Chief Minister, a politically uncomfortable question has begun echoing across party circles, social media platforms and tea shops alike: if Members of Parliament were barred from contesting the Assembly elections, how can a sitting MP now emerge as a frontrunner for the top post?

At the centre of the debate is K. C. Venugopal, the powerful AICC general secretary who has unexpectedly emerged as a serious contender for the Chief Minister's chair after the Congress-led UDF's emphatic return to power.

The irony is hard to miss for many within the party. Ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls, the Congress high command had reportedly taken a firm stand that sitting MPs should stay away from the state electoral battle.

The logic was simple: Parliamentarians should focus on national politics while state leaders take charge of Kerala's comeback mission.

That decision had disappointed several senior leaders eager to return to state politics.

Among those keen to contest were UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran.

Sudhakaran, in fact, is learnt to have resisted the directive strongly, with the standoff reaching a near breaking point before veteran A. K. Antony personally intervened to persuade him to relent.

Now, with Venugopal's name gaining momentum in the Chief Ministerial race, questions over political consistency are surfacing sharply.

Supporters of outgoing Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan argue that it was Satheesan who led the Congress revival from the front, both inside the Assembly and on the streets during the party's difficult years in opposition.

Former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala too remains in contention, asserting that seniority cannot be overlooked.

Adding fuel to the churn, Sudhakaran, who shares a strained relationship with Satheesan, remarked after meeting AICC observers on Thursday that the Congress was a party with 'hundreds of Satheesans'.

Meanwhile, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Congress legislature party has passed a one-line resolution authorising party chief Mallikarjuna Kharge to take the final call.

Outside closed-door meetings, the Venugopal question is only growing louder, and sources point out that a sizeable number of newly elected MLAs have rooted for Venugopal, followed by Satheesan.

Both Satheesan and Chennithala have been asked to report to Delhi on Friday, and by Sunday, the new Chief Minister of Kerala will be known.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The irony is not lost on Malayalis! Venugopal is a skilled administrator but this U-turn is going to haunt Congress in the long run. Satheesan deserves the top post for his relentless work during the opposition years. Even the tea shop uncles are discussing this inconsistency 😅
R
Ravi K
Interesting times in Kerala politics. While Venugopal has clout at the national level, the state needs a CM who understands local issues. Satheesan and Chennithala have both paid their dues. The high command should respect the sentiment of the newly elected MLAs rather than impose a Delhi-based solution.
A
Ashwin V
This is classic Congress drama! Venugopal is a good leader but the principle should be consistent. If MPs can't contest, how can they become CM? Meanwhile, Sudhakaran's comment about 'hundreds of Satheesans' shows the internal power struggle. Kerala deserves better leadership decisions 🙏
T
Tanya I
The Congress needs to learn from the BJP - once you set a rule, stick to it! This flip-flop only weakens the party's image. However, Venugopal is undoubtedly capable and has good rapport with the central leadership. Let's see what Kharge decides - hopefully it will be for the benefit of Kerala's development.
M
Manish T
Any decision should prioritize Kerala's progress over individual ambitions. Venugopal has done commendable work as AICC general secretary, but the state needs a hands-on CM who can tackle issues like unemployment and infrastructure development. Hoping for a mature decision from the Congress brass 🤞

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