New Delhi: The suspense over the next Chief Minister of Kerala is set to end on Thursday, with senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh confirming that the party high command has completed discussions on the leadership issue.
Speaking to reporters after a crucial round of meetings in Delhi, Jairam Ramesh said the Congress leadership had finalised internal consultations regarding the chief ministerial face for the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala. “As authorised by the members of the CLP in Kerala, the high command of Congress has completed all discussions. The decision on who the next CM of Kerala will be announced tomorrow,” he said.
The announcement comes after nearly ten days of intense lobbying, consultations and political uncertainty following the UDF’s massive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. Several senior leaders, including former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and working presidents, were called to Delhi for discussions with the party leadership.
Among the frontrunners for the top post are V. D. Satheesan, K. C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Party sources said differing opinions within the Congress and pressure from alliance partners contributed to the delay in announcing the chief ministerial candidate.
Earlier in the evening, Rahul Gandhi held a final round of discussions with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi. The meeting reportedly lasted around 40 minutes as the leadership attempted to build consensus before the official announcement.
The prolonged delay had triggered criticism from opposition parties as well as murmurs within the UDF camp, with many leaders urging the Congress to quickly resolve the leadership issue and begin government formation in the state.