Congress summons Kerala leaders to Capital amid CM decision delay

As uncertainty over the next Kerala chief minister continues, the Congress high command has called former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents and senior party leaders to New Delhi for discussions on Tuesday.

“I came to know with surprise, and the information was received only now. I am going to New Delhi on Tuesday on the 11 am flight,” Former KPCC president and senior leader VM Sudheeran confirmed on Monday. He said the direction given to him was to meet the party leadership in New Delhi.

When asked whether he would explain the political atmosphere in Kerala to the leadership, Sudheeran replied in the affirmative.

Regarding the delay in announcing the CM’s name, Sudheeran said he could not comment on it now and would give clear explanations to questions asked by the leadership.

Referring to the Congress-led UDF’s victory in the Assembly elections, Sudheeran said, “There is no doubt that it was a victory of Team UDF. Let Kerala get a CM and other mechanisms soon and let them work up to the expectations of the people.”

Senior leader K Muraleedharan also confirmed that he had been directed to meet the party leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday. He said he would travel on a 6 am flight and attend discussions at the party headquarters by 10 am. “I was asked to reach Delhi, and I said I will reach there. The rest will be known after reaching there,” he said.

When asked whether he had been called for discussions related to the CM’s selection, Muraleedharan said the leadership would not summon him merely to discuss the weather.

“The decision is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday. I expect the uncertainty to end within the next 48 hours,” he said.

Muraleedharan said he had already conveyed his opinion on the chief ministerial candidate during the Congress Legislature Party meeting attended by AICC observers in Thiruvananthapuram.

However, he said all Congress leaders and workers would accept the decision taken by the party high command.

There are reports that senior leaders K Sudhakaran, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and MM Hassan have also been called to New Delhi.

Recently, the AICC leadership held discussions in New Delhi with the three main contenders for the chief minister’s post — VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala — along with current KPCC president Sunny Joseph.

The Congress Legislature Party had passed a resolution authorising Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take a final decision on the next CM of Kerala.

The UDF secured a major victory in the Assembly elections, winning 102 seats, of which the Congress accounted for 63 constituencies.