Congress struggles in Kerala for consensus as CM hopefuls push claims

NEW DELHI: Amid a beardown assertion of Kerala person V D Satheesan to the CM's post, Congress brass Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Saturday brainstormed the enactment of the adjacent person successful the state, portion proceeding retired the 3 aspirants that see K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.

Venugopal is simply a beardown contender for the apical job.The enactment besides lashed retired astatine the protestation marches and societal media run taken retired by factional supporters, wide viewed arsenic a notation to the actions of the Satheesan campy targeting Venugopal. The important gathering included AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and authorities president Sunny Joseph. AICC authorities incharge Deepa Dasmunshi said, "A determination volition beryllium taken successful owed course."Though Congress-led UDF has won Kerala by a landslide, hard bargaining by Satheesan and Venugopal for the apical station has created suspense implicit the past fewer days. Satheesan - who arsenic the LoP was the look of the enactment for the past 5 years - has been vocal successful his assertion to the CM's post, and a wide ambiance successful the state, too, exists successful his favour. Congress partners successful UDF excessively are powerfully backing Satheesan whom they recognition for starring the conflict against the Left beforehand govt.

While AICC observers Maken and Wasnik, who met the authorities legislators Thursday, recovered that an overwhelming bloc of newly-elected MLAs enactment Rahul Gandhi confidant Venugopal, they are besides said to person spoken astir factoring successful the "public sentiment". They briefed Kharge and Rahul first, earlier the apical duo met the CM claimants separately.Sources said the enactment does not privation to displease immoderate of the leaders who are near out, and is keen to germinate a consensus. "Else the determination would person been announced by now," a root said. Importantly, Sonia Gandhi was besides consulted by Kharge and Rahul. The apical duo is learnt to person pulled up the authorities leaders for taking retired campaigns connected the enactment successful their favour.