KOCHI: Congress’ delay in naming the next chief minister four days after the UDF swept the Kerala assembly elections has triggered an unprecedented show of strength by supporters of senior leaders VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala across the state.
From Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam to Ernakulam, Congress workers have taken out rallies, erected giant hoardings and flooded social media demanding that their favorite leader be elevated to the top post.
Huge demonstrations in support of Satheesan were organized in Muthalakulam, Koyilandy, Kuttiady and Vadakara in Kozhikode, where supporters installed tall cutouts portraying him as ‘kingmaker’ and ‘Bahubali’. Similar marches were organized in Malappuram under the banner “Mathethara Keralam VD-ku Oppam”, while a rally titled “Secular Keralam with Satheesan” was held in Pampady.
Supporters also marched from the Martyrs’ Column to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram carrying Satheesan’s placards. At several places, Venugopal’s posters were reportedly torn down and replaced with Satheesan’s banners. Congress workers in Ernakulam and Kalamassery also witnessed a bending rivalry.
Meanwhile, the Congress leadership in Idukki cracked down on pro-Sateezan demonstrations. The DCC removed four officials who led a march demanding that Satheesan be made the CM. .
Interestingly, while grassroots leaders, including booth and mandalam committee presidents, have openly joined the rallies, most senior leaders have refrained from attending.
Some seniors across the factions are understood to be supporting Venugopal internally, arguing that the CM should be chosen through organizational consensus rather than public pressure.
