Even Kerala BJP has a preference for Congress's CM face
Amid an intense Congress power struggle over Kerala's next Chief Minister, Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar appeared to jokingly hint at the BJP's preference.
Of the four states where election results were declared earlier this month, all but one have their Chief Ministers in place. Even Tamil Nadu, where voters threw up a fractured mandate. However, neighbouring Kerala, where the UDF registered an impressive victory, still awaits its CM as alliance leader Congress struggles to quell infighting between supporters of three leaders vying for the post.
Such has been the wait for the Congress's Chief Minister choice that even the BJP's Kerala unit has weighed in with advice on whom the party should pick t lead Kerala.
Responding to a sarcastic post on the ongoing deadlock over the Kerala chief ministerial name, former Union minister and Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar took the opportunity to jokingly hint at the party’s preference from among KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala. All three are in the race to become Kerala's Chief Minister.
A post on X mocked the lobbying within Congress for the top post, saying, "Hilarious tough fight between Kerala BJP and national BJP. Kerala BJP wants KC Venugopal in Kerala, national BJP wants KC Venugopal in Delhi".
The post appeared to suggest that the BJP leadership in Delhi prefers Congress general secretary KC Venugopal to remain in the national capital as he poses little political threat to them there, while the Kerala BJP too would prefer him as Chief Minister for similar reasons in the state.
Responding to this, Chandrasekhar wrote,"My response - I will neither confirm nor deny that this is true," accompanied by grinning, laughing and zipper-mouth emojis.
After the Congress-led UDF stormed to power in the Assembly elections with 102 seats in the 140-member House, the party is yet to announce its Chief Ministerial pick. Intense deliberations are underway, with three senior leaders emerging as frontrunners. Supporters of each camp have rallied behind their leaders both online and offline, triggering a war of words, poster campaigns, shows of strength and aggressive lobbying.
While Satheesan and Chennithala contested the Assembly elections, Venugopal, who is currently an MP, has also emerged as a contender, turning the contest into a three-cornered race for the top post. Though all three leaders have urged supporters to avoid factionalism and public displays of support, the infighting has continued unabated.
According to Congress sources, a majority of MLAs are believed to be backing Venugopal over Satheesan, who remains a popular choice among party workers, and Chennithala, the former Leader of Opposition who was once seen as a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post in 2021 before the Left returned to power.
Of the four states where election results were declared earlier this month, all but one have their Chief Ministers in place. Even Tamil Nadu, where voters threw up a fractured mandate. However, neighbouring Kerala, where the UDF registered an impressive victory, still awaits its CM as alliance leader Congress struggles to quell infighting between supporters of three leaders vying for the post.
Such has been the wait for the Congress's Chief Minister choice that even the BJP's Kerala unit has weighed in with advice on whom the party should pick t lead Kerala.
Responding to a sarcastic post on the ongoing deadlock over the Kerala chief ministerial name, former Union minister and Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar took the opportunity to jokingly hint at the party’s preference from among KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala. All three are in the race to become Kerala's Chief Minister.
A post on X mocked the lobbying within Congress for the top post, saying, "Hilarious tough fight between Kerala BJP and national BJP. Kerala BJP wants KC Venugopal in Kerala, national BJP wants KC Venugopal in Delhi".
The post appeared to suggest that the BJP leadership in Delhi prefers Congress general secretary KC Venugopal to remain in the national capital as he poses little political threat to them there, while the Kerala BJP too would prefer him as Chief Minister for similar reasons in the state.
Responding to this, Chandrasekhar wrote,"My response - I will neither confirm nor deny that this is true," accompanied by grinning, laughing and zipper-mouth emojis.
After the Congress-led UDF stormed to power in the Assembly elections with 102 seats in the 140-member House, the party is yet to announce its Chief Ministerial pick. Intense deliberations are underway, with three senior leaders emerging as frontrunners. Supporters of each camp have rallied behind their leaders both online and offline, triggering a war of words, poster campaigns, shows of strength and aggressive lobbying.
While Satheesan and Chennithala contested the Assembly elections, Venugopal, who is currently an MP, has also emerged as a contender, turning the contest into a three-cornered race for the top post. Though all three leaders have urged supporters to avoid factionalism and public displays of support, the infighting has continued unabated.
According to Congress sources, a majority of MLAs are believed to be backing Venugopal over Satheesan, who remains a popular choice among party workers, and Chennithala, the former Leader of Opposition who was once seen as a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post in 2021 before the Left returned to power.
