VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala TIRUVANANTHAMPURAM: Congress’ battle for Kerala CM crossed from closed-door bargaining to open-street mobilisation on Thursday as rival camps staged demonstrations, mounted flex-board offensives and pressed competing claims before AICC observers tasked with choosing the state’s next helmsman. A power struggle erupted despite Congress-led UDF sweeping 103 seats in the 140-member assembly, handing the party its biggest mandate in decades and reviving factional fault lines long buried during the campaign. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held marathon consultations with senior functionaries, MPs, newly elected MLAs and UDF allies before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) adopted a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next CM. Three contenders — party MP KC Venugopal, 63; sixterm MLAs VD Satheesan, 61; and Ramesh Chennithala, 69 —intensified lobbying across the 63-member Congress bloc. AICC general secretary Venugopal’s camp claimed backing of 43 MLAs, while Satheesan and Chennithala factions projected support of 35 and 22, respectively, triggering aggressive last-mile manoeuvring before the brass seals the verdict. Sources said camps led by Satheesan and Chennithala resisted attempts to project Venugopal as a consensus candidate. Venugopal’s supporters said numbers tilted the race decisively in his favour. MP and former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran submitted a letter backing Venugopal’s candidature. During consultations, Satheesan is said to have argued that the CM choice could not hinge solely on arithmetic inside CLP and should also factor in public sentiment and coalition dynamics. Many UDF allies, including IUML, RSP, Kerala Congress, CMP and Kerala Congress (Jacob), are learnt to have backed Satheesan. Congress brass is also weighing possible political fallout if Venugopal gets the nod. Sources said Satheesan has indicated he could stay away from both cabinet and organisational responsibilities if denied the top post, raising stakes in an already volatile succession contest. Maken said the observers held one-to-one consultations with all MLAs before leaving for Delhi to submit a report to the party brass. A decision on the CM is expected by Sunday after consultations betweenAbout the AuthorRajiv GRajiv G is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India, bringing over two decades of journalistic experience and editorial expertise to the newsroom. He began his journey in 1998 with The Indian Express in Coimbatore before moving on to Deccan Chronicle in Hyderabad and later The New Indian Express in Hyderabad and Bangalore, and later in Kerala where he spent a decade covering some of the most defining stories. Since joining The Times of India in 2011, Rajiv has been at the forefront of reporting on Kerala’s health and political landscape. His sustained coverage of the health sector since 2005 has contributed to public awareness and policy discourse, while his political reporting since 2008 has provided readers with sharp, well-informed perspectives. His work has been widely recognized, earning him honors from the Indian Medical Association, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association, and the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association. He was also conferred the *Best Reporter Award* by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, where he has held leadership roles as Secretary and President.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? 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TIRUVANANTHAMPURAM: Congress’ battle for Kerala CM crossed from closed-door bargaining to open-street mobilisation on Thursday as rival camps staged demonstrations, mounted flex-board offensives and pressed competing claims before AICC observers tasked with choosing the state’s next helmsman. A power struggle erupted despite Congress-led UDF sweeping 103 seats in the 140-member assembly, handing the party its biggest mandate in decades and reviving factional fault lines long buried during the campaign. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held marathon consultations with senior functionaries, MPs, newly elected MLAs and UDF allies before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) adopted a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next CM. Three contenders — party MP KC Venugopal, 63; sixterm MLAs VD Satheesan, 61; and Ramesh Chennithala, 69 —intensified lobbying across the 63-member Congress bloc. AICC general secretary Venugopal’s camp claimed backing of 43 MLAs, while Satheesan and Chennithala factions projected support of 35 and 22, respectively, triggering aggressive last-mile manoeuvring before the brass seals the verdict. Sources said camps led by Satheesan and Chennithala resisted attempts to project Venugopal as a consensus candidate. Venugopal’s supporters said numbers tilted the race decisively in his favour. MP and former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran submitted a letter backing Venugopal’s candidature. During consultations, Satheesan is said to have argued that the CM choice could not hinge solely on arithmetic inside CLP and should also factor in public sentiment and coalition dynamics. Many UDF allies, including IUML, RSP, Kerala Congress, CMP and Kerala Congress (Jacob), are learnt to have backed Satheesan. Congress brass is also weighing possible political fallout if Venugopal gets the nod. Sources said Satheesan has indicated he could stay away from both cabinet and organisational responsibilities if denied the top post, raising stakes in an already volatile succession contest. Maken said the observers held one-to-one consultations with all MLAs before leaving for Delhi to submit a report to the party brass. A decision on the CM is expected by Sunday after consultations between
