Kerala Government Formation highlights: Congress jabs PM over delay in CM pick, says BJP took 50 days in Delhi

Outgoing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in Delhi on Sunday ahead of a crucial Left political bureau meeting to assess the alliance's defeat in the Assembly elections and discuss the selection of the Leader of the Opposition.

Vijayan reached Kerala House as senior Left leaders prepared for deliberations on the party's electoral setback and future strategy in the state.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the Congress delaying its decision on the chief ministerial face in Kerala, saying the BJP-led Centre itself took 50 days to announce a Chief Minister in Delhi.

"PM Modi should remember that it took him 50 days to announce the Chief Minister in Delhi. Only now have I realised that the Prime Minister seems to have memory loss. Observers came to Kerala and heard the opinions of all the MLAs. Discussions were held with Sunny Joseph, VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, me, and others. Now, we are waiting for the high command’s decision. A decision will be made as soon as possible," Chennithala said.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam on Sunday said the outgoing LDF government did not handle the protest by ASHA workers in Kerala effectively, referring to the months-long agitation led by health workers over their demands for higher pay and retirement benefits.

"The Left government should have had a different approach in handling protests like the one by ASHA workers. It should not behave like a right-wing government. A Left government should not disrespect workers' protests or look down upon them. But that happened," news agency PTI quoted Viswam as saying.

Indian National League (INL) general secretary Kasim Irikkur on Sunday alleged that votes of the ruling LDF were strategically shifted to the UDF in Kerala's Manjeswar constituency during the recently concluded Assembly elections to ensure the defeat of the BJP and protect secular values.

"This was done to ensure that K Surendran should not enter the Assembly. Would Congress workers similarly transfer their votes to defeat the BJP? They would not do that," he said while speaking to a Malayalam TV channel.

Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday congratulated Joseph Vijay on his election as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, saying he hoped the new government would uphold the values of social justice, secularism and people's welfare.

Senior leaders VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala are considered frontrunners for the post, with the final decision to be taken by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after consultations with the newly elected MLAs.

“It is the responsibility of every Congress worker to accept the decision of the leadership,” Muraleedharan said, stressing party discipline and unity as the high command prepares to announce the next Chief Minister of Kerala.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the ongoing discussion over the chief ministerial post has not taken away from the United Democratic Front’s electoral victory. He added that such internal debates are normal in the Congress party and will be resolved in due course, reported news agency PTI.

Congress leader K Muraleedharan said party workers are bound to accept the high command’s decision on the next Kerala Chief Minister following the UDF’s victory. He was responding to questions amid ongoing leadership discussions within the party.

The leadership is also considering the organisational implications of elevating KC Venugopal, who currently plays a crucial national role. At the same time, party leaders have been advised to restrain supporters from public campaigning or demonstrations in favour of any candidate.

All three contenders -- KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala and VD Satheesan -- are understood to have made their case before the leadership, while reiterating that they would accept the party’s final decision.

The Congress leadership has wrapped up its internal deliberations on the Kerala Chief Ministerial post, with a final announcement expected in the next 24 to 48 hours. Sources said former Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision, which will then be announced by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge.