‘Inside story’ of Kerala CM race: Venugopal, Satheesan or Chennithala? Know whose head will be crowned and what is Rahul Gandhi’s ‘plan’!

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram. After the change of power in Kerala, the biggest question now is who will be the next Chief Minister of the state? Within the Congress, the names of Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal, former Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala are being discussed the most for this top post. If sources are to be believed, only Rahul Gandhi will put the final seal on this big decision, but this time the ‘high command’ is in no mood to impose any decision.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Formula’: The one who is liked by the MLAs will become the CM.
According to sources, Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that only the one on whose name there is consensus among the newly elected MLAs will become the Chief Minister.

Rahul has given clear instructions to the party observers (Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken) going to Thiruvananthapuram that the decision should be taken only with the consensus of the MLAs.

The opinion of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former President Sonia Gandhi will also play a very important role in this decision.

KC Venugopal: Name in the race, but need and fear of rebellion in Delhi-
Some central leaders want to send Venugopal to Kerala and give the responsibility of the organization to a more mature leader in Delhi, but there are three big problems here:

Rahul’s confidant: Rahul Gandhi has made him his biggest strategist in the last five years. Due to his strong hold on the organisation, Rahul would not want to send him away from Delhi.

Displeasure of MLAs: The winning MLAs are against imposing any ‘parachute’ leader from Delhi.

Shadow of controversy: The opposition may put pressure on him due to some old allegations against him.

VD Satheesan: Young face, but chartered flight controversy spoiled the game!
VD Satheesan, who was the leader of the opposition in the previous assembly, is a strong young contender, but mobilization has started against him within the party too.

Chartered flight controversy: His recent visit to Mangaluru and alleged meeting with JD(S) leaders is in controversy. The high command has been told that the owner of the chartered flight they used is a controversial person.

Political Equation: It is believed that if Satheesan becomes CM, he will become the biggest face of Kerala politics for a long time, which can be a threat to Venugopal’s future politics.

Ramesh Chennithala: Most senior, Sonia’s choice and front runner!
His long experience and seniority is the biggest weapon in Ramesh Chennithala’s favor.

Chennithala, who was a close confidant of Rajiv Gandhi, also enjoys the full trust of Sonia Gandhi.

Senior Congress leaders believe that when the UDF government was formed in the state, Oommen Chandy was made the CM because of his seniority. Now is the time to do justice to Chennithala.

There is also discussion that KC Venugopal himself may support Chennithala internally to stop Satheeshan.

Shashi Tharoor’s name also in discussion, but Congress will not take risk-
One name of Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is also doing the rounds, but both Venugopal and Tharoor are Lok Sabha MPs. The party does not want to take the risk of by-elections in the state by making any MP the CM.

Rahul does not want to repeat Punjab’s mistake-
Rahul Gandhi also gave preference to the opinion of MLAs in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh (2018), Karnataka and Telangana. Only in Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi was made the CM by ignoring the MLAs (who were in favor of Sunil Jakhar), due to which the party had to suffer a crushing defeat. For this reason, Rahul has made it clear that the decision on Kerala will be taken only after the approval of the MLAs.