After days of discussion among state party leaders and central observers, the Congress on Saturday announced that it has not finalised its chief minister in Kerala.
Along with V.D. Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Kerala assembly, names of veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were among leaders vying for the top post.
This comes a day after Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, the two central observers, appointed by the High Command submitted their report to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday. Now the state leaders will discuss government formation and allotment of key cabinet posts.
All three of them were in Delhi along with Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph to discuss the chief minister post. Congress general secretary in charge of Kerala affairs, Deepa Dasmunshi, was also part of the discussions.
It has been reported that most of the party MLAs back Venugopal as chief minister, while the lower-rung party functionaries and public favours Satheesan. Ramesh Chennithala has staked claim to the CM post based on his seniority in the party.
While submitting their report, Maken and Wasnik discussed the observations of the new legislators and also consulted party MPs and some former MPs.
