Resentment has emerged within the Congress in Kerala over the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) indirect support for V. D. Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate. This public backing, based on exit polls, has intensified a power struggle among factions supporting Ramesh Chennithala, Satheesan, and K. C. Venugopal.
Various factions within the Congress are unhappy with the IUML—the second-largest constituent of the Congress-led UDF—publicly influencing the selection of the Chief Minister, a decision traditionally made by the Congress high command. Supporters of Venugopal and Chennithala have particularly objected to the IUML’s open endorsement of Satheesan.
A section of Congress leaders feels that the IUML is overstepping its role, while others are dissatisfied with the handling of the leadership issue ahead of the election results scheduled for May 4. These leaders believe that alliance partners should refrain from expressing public opinions during the Chief Ministerial debate.
IUML Kerala president Sadiqali Shihab Thangal on Thursday openly supported Satheesan for the Chief Minister’s post. Speaking to the media in Malappuram, Thangal said that the backing reflected in exit polls represents “public sentiment” that the UDF must consider while deciding its leadership.
Traditionally, the IUML has left the Chief Minister’s selection to the Congress high command. This is the first time the party has publicly commented on who should lead a prospective UDF government, with some Congress leaders viewing it as a violation of front etiquette.
Meanwhile, SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan alleged that the IUML’s statement indicates an attempt to influence or control the administration if the UDF comes to power.
In another development, reports suggest that the filming of a documentary on Venugopal, titled KC @50, has been halted. The documentary, marking 50 years of his political journey, is seen as the latest casualty of the alleged organisational tussle within the Kerala Congress over post-poll leadership.
It is also reported that the Congress high command has directed the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to ask party members to refrain from publishing promotional or acclamatory material about leaders across social, television, and print media until the Congress Legislative Party leadership issue is resolved. However, conflicting reports indicate that filming of the documentary is continuing in Alappuzha and Kannur.