Kerala Congress Leadership Crisis Deepens

VD Satheesan, aspirant for the top job in Kerala, has made it clear that he is not ready to accept any other post, sources close to him said. The Congress Central leadership, however, envisions Satheesan playing the role of a key minister within a government led by KC Venugopal, who is the choice of Rahul Gandhi as well as the state's legislators.

The impasse, which has been ongoing for a week, has drawn comparisons to the situation in Karnataka, where the top post became a bone of contention between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Sources said Rahul Gandhi has convened a meeting with former presidents and working presidents of the Kerala Congress to help solve the impasse.

The party high command is already displeased with the pressure tactics being employed by Satheesan and another aspirant, Ramesh Chennithala. While posters and cutouts of Venugopal have been displayed at party offices, Satheesan's loyalists have been holding protests and demonstrations.

The power struggle has significant implications for the party, with the potential for damage if Satheesan is disgruntled. If Venugopal is appointed Chief Minister, he will be required to contest an assembly by-election, and a by-election would also have to be held for his Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress leadership will meet tomorrow to discuss the issue, with a decision expected to take more time. A Congress leader said the decision is significant and deliberating on all its aspects will take time, but expressed confidence that a delay will cause no harm, given the Kerala assembly's tenure is till May 23.