The Congress observers for Keralam — Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, on Thurssay conducted the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Thursday in which a one line resolution was passed authorizing the party leadership to decide on the new chief minister of the state.
The Congress appointed Maken and Wasnik as party observers for Keralam, where the UDF rested power from the Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF in the southern state.
The two observers had travelled to Thiruvananthpuram on Wednessay and on Thursday morning they held meeting of the newly elected MLAs.
During the meeting, a one line resolution was passed authorizing the party leadership to decidemon the next chief Ministerial face in the state.
Maken after the meeting also said that he held one to one meeting with all the newly elected MLAs to know their view about the Chief Ministerial face and has prepared the report which he will submit with the party leadership.
Meanwhile, sources said that Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal is the front runner in the Chief Ministerial race, despite being a Lok Sabha MP followed by senior party leader Ramesh Chenithalla and VD Sateeshan.
The sources said that during the one to one meeting, Venugopal, who is a Lom Sabha MP from Alphuzza has got more than 40 votes while Chenithalla got around 30 votes and Sateeshan got over 20 votes.
The Congresd led UDF had swept the election, winning 102 of the 140 seats, with the Congress alone securing a record 63 seats. Despite the commanding mandate, the party has found it difficult to settle the chief Ministerial post.
The leadership battle has triggered visible tension within the Kerala unit of the Congress as a section of party workers has openly rallied behind Satheesan, maintaining that the electoral mandate was shaped by his political line and campaign leadership.
Several supporters of Satheesan are also preparing demonstrations in different parts of the state. He has led the UDF in the Assembly over the last five years and is widely seen as one of the central figures behind the alliance’s victory.
Even Chenithalla’s supporters remain hopeful, banking on his seniority and long-standing organisational experience. While Venugopal is considered the most strongest and influential leader at the national level.