KOCHI: High-stakes lobbying, late-night strategy sessions and intense back-channel negotiations marked the third straight day of the Congress chief ministerial race, with K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala working the phones and numbers ahead of the crucial meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken, who arrived in the state capital on Wednesday, are expected to sound out MLA-designates individually before conveying their assessment to the Congress high command in New Delhi. At the heart of the power struggle is a fierce battle between organisational clout and public perception.
The Venugopal camp has gone on the offensive, claiming the backing of 47 of the 63 Congress MLA-elects. Leaders close to the AICC general secretary said many newly elected legislators owe both their candidature and campaign resources to him.
However, Satheesan’s camp remains confident that the mood among legislators and allies favours the current leader of opposition, who spearheaded the UDF’s aggressive anti-LDF campaign.
“For MLAs and party workers, KC is like Karunakaran and Oommen Chandy — a leader who will never abandon his supporters,” a senior Congress source said.
According to party insiders, Venugopal played a decisive role in candidate selection and quietly ensured financial support for several campaigns. “Naturally, there is loyalty,” the source said.
‘Allies unlikely to challenge Cong decision’
His supporters also sought to remind the leadership that it was Venugopal who persuaded Rahul Gandhi to back Satheesan for the post of leader of opposition after the party’s crushing defeat in 2021. “Satheesan has never acknowledged that it was KC who backed him for the leader of opposition post before Rahul Gandhi and the high command,” the source added.
The Venugopal camp is also projecting his elevation as politically and constitutionally feasible despite him not being an MLA. Leaders point to former chief ministers C Achutha Menon, E K Nayanar and A K Antony, who assumed office without being members of the assembly. “So, if KC is chosen by the high command, there is nothing unusual about it,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Satheesan’s camp remains confident, citing that the popular sentiment favours him. Though his supporters claim the backing of around 33 MLAs, they insist Satheesan never cultivated a separate faction within the party. “Is it a fault that Satheesan did not build a loyalist group?” asked a senior leader close to him.
IUML and other UDF allies are learnt to be privately backing Satheesan, though sources say they are unlikely to openly challenge any decision taken by the Congress leadership. Even as the numbers game intensifies, murmurs within the party suggest Satheesan’s equations with sections of the organisation have weakened over the years. “After becoming leader of opposition, he did not take care of many people who stood with him when he had little influence. Trust has been lost,” said another Congress source.
According to party insiders, strained relationships and internal resentment could emerge as major hurdles in Satheesan’s bid for the top post. Still, some leaders believe time remains on his side. “He is younger and has several years ahead of him. Missing out now will not be the end of the road for Satheesan,” a senior Congress functionary said.