NEW DELHI: Amid a strong claim of Kerala leader V D Satheesan to the CM’s post, Congress brass Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Saturday brainstormed the selection of the next leader in the state, while hearing out the three aspirants that include K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Venugopal is a strong contender for the top job.The party also lashed out at the protest marches and social media campaign taken out by factional supporters, widely viewed as a reference to the actions of the Satheesan camp targeting Venugopal. The crucial meeting included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and state president Sunny Joseph. AICC state incharge Deepa Dasmunshi said, “A decision will be taken in due course.”Though Congress-led UDF has won Kerala by a landslide, hard bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the top post has created suspense over the last few days. Satheesan – who as the LoP was the face of the party for the last five years – has been vocal in his claim to the CM’s post, and a general atmosphere in the state, too, exists in his favour. Congress partners in UDF too are strongly backing Satheesan whom they credit for leading the battle against the Left front govt.While AICC observers Maken and Wasnik, who met the state legislators Thursday, found that an overwhelming bloc of newly-elected MLAs support Rahul Gandhi confidant Venugopal, they are also said to have spoken about factoring in the “public sentiment”. They briefed Kharge and Rahul first, before the top duo met the CM claimants separately.Sources said the party does not want to displease any of the leaders who are left out, and is keen to evolve a consensus. “Else the decision would have been announced by now,” a source said. Importantly, Sonia Gandhi was also consulted by Kharge and Rahul. The top duo is learnt to have pulled up the state leaders for taking out campaigns on the leadership in their favour.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTVK Chief Vijay To Take Oath As Tamil Nadu CM On May 10, Trust Vote By May 13‘No Repentance’: Supreme Court On MP Minister’s Remark On Col Sofiya Qureshi‘Rangla to Kangla’: Raghav Chadha ’s Big Charge After ED Action | WatchIndia Successfully Tests Advanced Agni Missile With MIRV Technology‘First Enemy Is BJP’: Mamata Calls For Joint Oppn Platform As Suvendu Takes Oath As Bengal CMIndian Sailor Killed, 4 Injured After Dhow Catches Fire Near Strait Of HormuzMamata Banerjee’s X Bio Change Sparks Buzz After BJP Forms Bengal GovernmentDid TMC Avoid Official Entry of Political Killings? Zero In NCRB Records | WatchED Arrests Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora In Rs 100 Crore Money Laundering CaseVCK Backs Vijay As TVK Moves Closer To Forming Government In Tamil Nadu | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy is your diet the secret to healthy hair?A simple homely dish that reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his motherSuccess quote of the day by Aristotle: “Excellence is never an accident, it is always the result of…”Hantavirus is that odd infection that can make a simple fever a medical emergency, says Delhi NCR pulmonologistWhat’s it like to visit 10 most economically stable countries in the world right now? What’s India’s rankHow to know if someone is genuine: 5 common habits that sets them apart from those who are fakeHow to correctly store watermelons in summer to keep them fresh, juicy, and long-lastingAnimals that carry their homes with themHow to make South Indian Lauki Paniyaram for Saturday breakfastSundar Pichai: 5 career-saving office politics tips inspired by the Google CEO123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingWWE Smackdown HighlightsWest Bengal Government FormationUS Iran warHPBOSE 10th Result 2026Yashasvi JaiswalR AshwinBAN vs PAKSalil AnkolaWest Bengal CabinetSuryansh Shedge
NEW DELHI: Amid a strong claim of Kerala leader V D Satheesan to the CM’s post, Congress brass Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Saturday brainstormed the selection of the next leader in the state, while hearing out the three aspirants that include K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Venugopal is a strong contender for the top job.The party also lashed out at the protest marches and social media campaign taken out by factional supporters, widely viewed as a reference to the actions of the Satheesan camp targeting Venugopal. The crucial meeting included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and state president Sunny Joseph. AICC state incharge Deepa Dasmunshi said, “A decision will be taken in due course.”Though Congress-led UDF has won Kerala by a landslide, hard bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the top post has created suspense over the last few days. Satheesan – who as the LoP was the face of the party for the last five years – has been vocal in his claim to the CM’s post, and a general atmosphere in the state, too, exists in his favour. Congress partners in UDF too are strongly backing Satheesan whom they credit for leading the battle against the Left front govt.While AICC observers Maken and Wasnik, who met the state legislators Thursday, found that an overwhelming bloc of newly-elected MLAs support Rahul Gandhi confidant Venugopal, they are also said to have spoken about factoring in the “public sentiment”. They briefed Kharge and Rahul first, before the top duo met the CM claimants separately.Sources said the party does not want to displease any of the leaders who are left out, and is keen to evolve a consensus. “Else the decision would have been announced by now,” a source said. Importantly, Sonia Gandhi was also consulted by Kharge and Rahul. The top duo is learnt to have pulled up the state leaders for taking out campaigns on the leadership in their favour.
