Thiruvananthapuram: Even after a sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly election, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is yet to announce who will become Chief Minister, with internal discussions continuing.
In the 140-member Assembly, the UDF won 102 seats to form the government. The Congress secured 63 seats on its own, while the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) was reduced to 35.
With the party returning to power in Kerala after 10 years, senior leaders K C Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan are seen in contention, leading to a delay in finalising the leadership.
Amid the uncertainty, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held separate meetings in Delhi with former Kerala Congress leaders at Sonia Gandhi’s residence. Leaders including M M Hassan, K Sudhakaran, K Muraleedharan and disciplinary committee chief Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan attended, along with working presidents Shafi Parambil, A P Anil Kumar and P C Vishnunath.
Senior leader K Muraleedharan said the party would not decide solely based on MLAs’ views and would also consult UDF partners and public opinion, adding that “good news” would come soon. M M Hassan said alliance partners had no role in choosing the legislature party leader and that the Congress would take the decision on its own.
