Chennithala skips CLP meet alleging norms ignored

New Delhi: Soon after the Congress leadership named V. D. Satheesan as Kerala chief minister, the first note of discontent emerged, with senior leader Ramesh Chennithala - also a contender for the post - conveying to Rahul Gandhi that party norms, his seniority and commitment had been ignored in the leadership's choice, sources said. Chennithala then made public his disagreement by skipping the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Thiruvananthapuram where Satheesan was elected leader. However, K. C. Venugopal, who was also in the chief ministerial race, said he stood by the Congress high command's decision and extended support to Satheesan.

"The Congress high command has nominated VD Satheesan as the CLP leader and CM of Kerala. I wholeheartedly welcome it. It is with great hope that the people of Kerala have brought the Congress and the UDF to power with a big majority. The government will respond to their hopes. I extend my full backing to the government and the CM. I have always maintained that the high command will take the decision and that I will fully stand by that. I will now be part of the responsibility to implement that decision," Venugopal said in Delhi.

Venugopal ignored media questions about the IUML rallying behind Satheesan, but reacted strongly to questions about some among Satheesan's street and cyber supporters targeting him. "For me, the Congress is everything. I don't try to create an image beyond the party. I am a worker who always stands by the party and the people. So, if attempts were made in cyberspace to target and malign me, I will bear with it. I didn't enter politics yesterday.," he said.