Cong stretches Kerala CM saga, uncertainty irks ally

The Congress party's delay in naming the next Kerala Chief Minister is causing concern, with a key ally warning of potential political repercussions if the decision is prolonged.

There was no decision on Monday by the Congress on the next chief minister of Kerala, the only state in the latest election cycle going through such uncertainty, prompting key ally Indian Union Muslim League to warn that the delay could have political repercussions.

The party leadership is learnt to have decided to hold discussions with former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents before finalising a name.

Those called by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to Delhi for discussions, likely on Tuesday, included M M Hassan, V M Sudheeran, Mullapally Ramachandran and K Muraleedharan, besides veteran leader and Kannur Lok Sabha MP K Sudhakaran, sources said.

Congress Consults Senior Leaders on Kerala CM Choice

"Discussions will also be held with former defence minister and party veteran A K Antony, who served as KPCC president between 1996 and 2001, to arrive at a decision within a day or two," a person familiar with the developments told PTI.

Uncertainty continued in party circles on Monday, two days after Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi held discussions with the three contenders for the top post -- senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, All India Congress Committee general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and leader of opposition in the outgoing Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan.

KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in charge of the southern state, Deepa Dasmunsi, also attended the meeting.

IUML Expresses Concern Over Delay

The IUML, a key constituent of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala, expressed displeasure over the situation.

The party's Malappuram district general secretary P Abdul Hameed said the delay had already caused dissatisfaction among party workers and the public.

"The decision has already been delayed. If it is prolonged further, there will be repercussions. We hope the AICC leadership realises this," he told reporters.

Historical Context of CM Selection Delays

This is not the first time that the Congress has kept the decision on picking a chief minister hanging.

Intense lobbying was witnessed when the Congress won the Karnataka polls in 2023, with the two top contenders -- Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar -- lobbying hard for the top post.

Finally, a compromise was reached, and Siddaramaiah was named chief minister with Shivakumar as his deputy.

Such lobbying and delay were also witnessed in 2018, when the Congress won Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia were chief minister aspirants in Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot were the front-runners in Rajasthan. Eventually, a compromise was reached after days of uncertainty, and while Kamal Nath was chosen in Madhya Pradesh, Gehlot got the top job in Rajasthan with Pilot as his deputy.

Public Dissatisfaction Grows in Kerala

People across Kerala were questioning the delay, Hameed said, claiming that women voters from the district were calling party leaders to ask why they had been asked to vote for the UDF.

"There is dissatisfaction everywhere. People are raising this issue wherever we go, even at weddings and funerals," he said.

Party leaders in Thiruvananthapuram have indicated that the high command is waiting for the political atmosphere in Kerala, which witnessed demonstrations and poster wars between the supporters of Satheesan and Venugopal last week, to calm down before making an announcement.

Hameed said Kerala was politically different from north Indian states and prolonged indecision would not be accepted by its politically aware voters.

Congress Leaders Respond to Concerns

Asked about the delay, a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named, said, "The Assembly expires only on May 23. So there is no hurry †why worry?"

Chennithala said whatever decision the party high command took would be accepted by all Congress and UDF workers in Kerala.

"We have conveyed to the high command whatever we had to say. They have heard everything. Now it is for them to decide," Chennithala told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after returning from Delhi.

He also said the delay was part of the democratic process.

"All the discussions have been completed. We are not taking as much time as the Left Front took last time," Chennithala said.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticism on the issue, Chennithala had said on Sunday that there was no need to respond when the saffron party itself took days to decide on its CM pick in Delhi.

After the 2025 Delhi elections, the BJP came under attack from the opposition parties over the delay in announcing its chief minister.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan compared the ongoing uncertainty in Kerala to a train journey.

"There is no point in walking inside a moving train. The train has not yet reached the station. One can get down only after it reaches the station," he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

"Sometimes, due to adverse weather conditions, a train may get delayed in reaching the station," he said, extending the analogy to the ongoing deliberations within the party.

He acknowledged that the delay had caused unease among the public.

The Congress has 63 MLAs in the 140-member Assembly. The IUML has 22, and its opinion will matter.

The Kerala Congress (KEC) won eight seats and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) three in the just concluded polls.

The UDF has won a total of 102 seats, which is more than a two-thirds majority.