Congress workers remove posters supporting VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and others from Vellayambalam in Thiruvananthapuram on the instructions of the Congress high command as the race for Kerala Chief Minister continues. | Photo credit: Nirmal Harindra
The Congress’ bid to appoint a Chief Minister for Kerala remained deadlocked even as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held consultations with the three main candidates, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and VD Satheesan, KPCC President Saturday 09/26).
AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik were also present in the meeting. Consultations took place together and individually.
“The high command will take an appropriate decision at the right time,” Deepa Dasmunsi, the party’s general secretary in-charge of Kerala, told the media after the meeting. When asked for further clarification, she said the high command had until May 23 to finalize the candidate list. Accompanied by senior Congress leadership from Kerala, she urged party workers to refrain from embarrassing public display of their major ministerial decisions. The leaders also individually called on the party workers and sympathizers to remove all hoardings, banners and posters put up in public places in support of their favorite chief ministerial candidates.
Sources said the high-stakes discussions were marked by intense posturing and competing claims by the bidders. The central management will not negotiate further with the bidders, they said. The high command, it is learnt, will take the final decision after considering the claims of each faction along with the views of Congress MLA candidates and United Democratic Front (UDF) cadres.
While Mr. Kharge was leading the consultations in New Delhi, Mr. Gandhi joined in the hope of reaching a consensus. Senior leaders said Mr Kharge and Mr Gandhi were visibly dismayed by the poster wars and public marches across Kerala in the past few days, rooting for their favorite leaders who often appeared impolite to other leaders.
After the appeal, staff removed aggressive flex boards that tarnished the party’s image in the state from many parts, even as new boards supporting other candidates appeared.
Government is the highest currency in Kerala
Earlier, Mr. Kharge also directed the state leadership to take strict action against those violating party discipline and decorum in connection with the Kerala Chief Minister controversy. The high command has said that any attempt to tarnish the image of the party will not be tolerated.
Mr Venugopal staked his claim to the top post by highlighting the support he enjoys among most legislators in the state, while Mr Satheesan continued to make his case citing the leadership role he played in securing the party’s impressive victory in Kerala. Mr. Chennithala, meanwhile, emphasized his seniority in the party as the basis for his claim to the post.
Earlier on Friday, Congress president K Muraleedharan said the views of the constituent parties in the UDF along with those of the MLAs should be considered in the debate on the chief ministerial candidate. The day also saw a heated exchange between the KSU and MSF, the student wing of the Congress and its UDF partner IUML, after the IUML’s comments on the Chief Minister’s selection drew flak from Congress candidate MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan. Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan also took exception to Mr. Kuzhalnadan’s stand and showed the differences in the Congress.
Published – 09 May 2026 22:21 IST
