Congress keeps Kerala CM suspense alive; high command likely to announce pick tomorrow

K Muraleedharan on Friday said the Congress high command would take the final call on the next Chief Minister of Kerala after consultations with senior leaders in the state, as suspense over the top post continued even after the UDF’s emphatic election victory.

Speaking after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at the party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Muraleedharan said the party observers had already left for Delhi and would submit their report to the central leadership later in the day. The Congress, which emerged as the dominant force within the United Democratic Front (UDF), is now focused on settling the leadership question without triggering internal friction.

Advertisement

“The central observers will submit their report today. The decision will be taken by the high command tomorrow in consultation with the senior leaders of Kerala. The name will probably be announced the day after tomorrow. The decision of the high command is final,” Muraleedharan told ANI.

Congress signals unity despite leadership buzz

Amid speculation over competing camps within the state unit, Muraleedharan sought to downplay any possibility of a split or rebellion once the decision is announced.

“When the name comes out, everybody will be united. See, flux is going on. Tomorrow, a decision will come. High command is final,” he said.

He also rejected suggestions of unrest within the party over the leadership issue.

“There will not be any revolt in the party,” he added.

The UDF secured a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections, winning 102 seats. Of these, the Congress accounted for 63 seats, strengthening its position within the alliance and setting the stage for the leadership selection process.

CLP authorises high command to decide leader

Meanwhile, Mukul Wasnik said all Congress MLAs had unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party high command to choose the leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

“In Kerala, following a Congress Legislative Party meeting, all party MLAs discussed and approved a proposal authorising the Congress high command to select the leader of the legislative party. A detailed report will be submitted to the party leadership,” Wasnik said.

On the other side of the political divide, TP Ramakrishnan said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was yet to decide on its Leader of Opposition in the new Assembly.

Ramakrishnan also dismissed calls for a leadership change in the CPI(M) after the alliance lost the election under outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.