V D Satheesan, a 61-year-old lawyer-turned-politician, has emerged as a prominent figure in Kerala politics, known for his aggressive opposition to the Left government and his role in revitalising the Congress party. His journey from student politics to a key leadership position highlights his strategic acumen and dedication to addressing local issues.
'He worked over time to become the natural claimant,' a senior UDF leader observed. 'Others had organisational stature, but Satheesan had momentum.' For the Congress, it may signal the beginning of a new leadership template -- one where performance, communication and grassroots credibility increasingly outweigh inherited power structures in deciding who leads the party into its next phase.
Congress stalwart and four-time chief minister K Karunakaran was on Saturday cremated with full state honours as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a large number of people paid adieu to the colossus of Kerala politics. After the family members performed the last rituals, a gun salute was accorded and Seva Dal volunteers paid their respects.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had paid his last respects to the departed leader at the Thrissur town hall earlier in the day.
Intense lobbying is underway in Kerala as V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala vie for the chief minister's post, with their camps citing popularity, MLA support, and experience as key factors for the Congress high command's decision.
The ailing Kerala Congress leader breathed his last at the Ananathapuram Hospitals and Research Institute in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday evening.
He will meet Governor R L Bhatia on Tuesday morning and will be sworn in later in the day, CLP sources said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has questioned Congress leaders regarding their alleged connections to the accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, dismissing claims of his own involvement and demanding answers about the accused's access to Sonia Gandhi.
The 79-year old leader, who served as the chief minister of Kerala twice, breathed his last in a private hospital in Bengaluru at 4.25 am. His end came while undergoing treatment for cancer, party sources said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday lashed out at Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for calling a group of protesting Students' Federation of India (SFI) members 'criminals' and said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government has 'let loose such a deranged man'.
Congress stalwart and former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran was on Thursday admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram in a serious condition with fever and breathing problems, but showed slight improvement and was responding to the treatment, doctors said."He was in a highly critical condition when brought to the hospital. But by afternoon, he began responding to medicines. He opened his eyes and seems to have recognised his daughter Padmaja," said a doctor.
The report filed by Vigilance SP V N Sasidharan said Chandy was not aware of the details of the decision to import palmolein through a Singapore based firm.
In a strategic move, the BJP has welcomed prominent Christian figures like Anil K Antony, son of Congress stalwart AK Antony, and seasoned Kerala politician PC George, into its fold.
In a setback to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, a vigilance court in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday ordered a probe to ascertain if he had any role in the 1992 palmolein oil import deal as the then finance minister in the K Karunakaran government.
In a legal and political setback to the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala, a vigilance court on Friday turned down its move to wind up the palmolein import graft case dating to 1992 when late Congress veteran K Karunakaran was the chief minister.
Communist Party of India-Marxist Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala.
Although the leaders are not on same page on many matters related to the party, they have apparently come together to check Tharoor's larger political ambition in the state, they said.
Senior leader K Karunakaran and his son Muraleedharan boycotted the swearing in ceremony.
In Kerala, the use of black ranges from such convenience to strictures by community and religion to fashion and personal choice. One would have to be really insecure or too fond of the well settled life to see black solely as a badge of protest, points out Shyam G Menon.
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