The UDF in Kerala is making strides to determine which of the big three names, V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and KC Venugopal will be confirmed as the next chief minister.
The party will reportedly call a meeting today or tomorrow, reports say. Party high command observers are also likely to meet the MLAs one-on-one.
Ramesh Chennithala met with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi to discuss the chief ministership on Wednesday. After the meeting, Chennithala told the media that there is no competition for the support of MLAs. He said that the decision will be made by the party high command.
"The party will take a final decision on all these issues. In Keralam, we got a spectacular victory... Now, the other things will be decided by the Congress high command. There are several leaders in the Congress party, but whatever the high command decides, all the Congress leaders will accept it," Chennithala said.
Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, has maintained that the there should be no confusion in the decision.
Meanwhile, the UDF coalition parties have said that they will not interfere in the decision made by the Congress. However, the parties, including the Muslim League, will express their position if the high command fails to make a decision.
The MLAs have all been called to the capital for the process, and the leaders are trying to ensure they have support
Meanwhile, supporters of the three have also made their arguments as to why they should be made the CM.
Satheesan is being hailed as the top contender as he served as the opposition leader during the LDF's rule. He is also credited with restoring the party after its 2021 defeat and securing the UDF's comeback during the recent elections.
Chennithala’s supporters, meanwhile, say that he is the most senior out of the three and that they should respect seniority.
Supporters of KC Venugopal, claim that he has the biggest supporters. Soon after the results were declared boards and hoardings with his name appeared near the KPCC headquarters on Trivandrum road.
KC Venugopal, however, said that flexes and banners will not be a criterion in deciding who the CM is.
