Five days have passed since the announcement of the Keralam Assembly election results, yet the name of the Chief Minister remains unannounced. After a long 10-year wait, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has returned to power, but the process of government formation is still underway. Central observers held consultations with newly elected MLAs and ally parties in Thiruvananthapuram, while it's reported that Congress will consider three major factors before deciding on the new Chief Minister of Kerala.
Three Critical Factors for Selection
According to sources close to the Congress, the party will work on three factors following the meetings in Kerala. First, the Congress will take the opinion of its MLAs. Second, after discussing with the MLAs, the party will assess the stance of its allies. Third, an effort will be made to gauge public opinion and popularity among the masses. Although ally parties have expressed their varying views regarding the Chief Ministerial post, it won't impact the Congress's decision as the party will decide independently.
The Three Frontrunners for the Post
C. D. Satheesan. According to sources, after finalizing the name for the Chief Minister, the party high command will first inform these three leaders of the decision over the phone. If all three leaders agree on the proposed name, the announcement will be made immediately. If these leaders don't agree on the name, they will be summoned to Delhi for further discussions and persuasion before the final announcement.
Role of Observers and High Command
Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer Ajay Maken stated that the MLAs have passed a one-line resolution authorizing the Congress high command to choose the Chief Minister. He mentioned that they've gathered individual opinions, compiled them, and the report will now be submitted to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Earlier, Congress observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held separate meetings with party MLAs and alliance partners on Thursday to deliberate on the selection of the next Keralam Chief Minister.
Party sources indicated that the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) passed a resolution empowering Congress President Kharge to select the Chief Minister. Following the resolution, observers conducted individual meetings with MLAs at the party office to understand their views on the leadership issue.