Kerala: CM race spills onto streets, social media as supporters rally behind contenders

With the ball now in the Congress high command's court to decide the next Chief Minister of Kerala, supporters of key contenders V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala have hit the streets and social media platforms extending support to their leaders across the state.

On Thursday, when AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken arrived to attend the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and hold individual discussions with the party's 63 MLAs, six flex boards were installed near Indira Bhavan in support of MP K C Venugopal, who did not contest the Kerala Assembly election.

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On one of Venugopal's flex boards in Thiruvananthapuram, grease oil was allegedly poured on Thursday.

On the other hand, demonstrations were held in support of V D Satheesan in various parts of the state.

Besides that, posters against Venugopal and in support of Satheesan appeared in Alappuzha and Irikkur in Kannur district.

Even though Ramesh Chennithala is far behind in the flex board war, the senior leader has supporters on social media who are vehemently demanding that he be elevated to the Chief Minister's post.

Though there are reports that Venugopal enjoys majority support among the MLAs, party leaders have not made any direct statements. Instead, indirect indications are being given through social media posts and responses to the media.

With the CLP resolution authorising the AICC president to decide the CLP leader, who will also become the Chief Minister, the triangular contest is likely to extend to New Delhi and the party headquarters.

The observers are expected to submit a report to the AICC on Friday, and leaders from Kerala are likely to be called to the party headquarters for final discussions before the announcement of the chief minister candidate.

Even though UDF allies, for the most part, prefer V D Satheesan, they too have refrained from making any public statement in this regard.

K Muraleedharan, who won from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency, said such incidents were normal in a democratic party like the Congress.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, he said that once the Chief Minister is finalised, the party would unite behind the decision.

"The decision will come in two days. It will most probably come by Sunday," he said.

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Muraleedharan said he had conveyed his opinion on the choice of Chief Minister to the AICC observers, taking into consideration the sentiments of voters in his constituency.

"I will accept whoever is selected. I hope the high command will decide after considering public sentiment. But I will accept whatever decision is taken," he said.

He said the high command was acting in an open-minded manner in selecting the chief minister.

"This is a democratic procedure which cannot be decided in a few hours. The Congress has 63 MLAs. Their opinion, along with that of allied parties, was heard. The decision will not be taken based on the size of the flex boards of leaders," he said.