Competing claims: Congress CM selection process in Kerala turns dramatic over leaked list

Thiruvananthapuram: The internal process within the Congress to select a Chief Minister candidate has turned dramatic, with competing claims emerging over MLA preferences recorded during the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in the state capital.

It became more dramatic after a photograph reportedly showing a list held by AICC observer Mukul Wasnik after the meeting was published by a national daily. The document is said to contain names of Congress MLAs and a column indicating their preferences for the Chief Minister’s post.

The list allegedly shows several MLAs, including Sandeep Varier, Sajeev Joseph, T O Mohanan, Sunny Joseph, Usha Vijayan and T Siddique, marked with “KC”. This is being interpreted as support for K C Venugopal.

Against I C Balakrishnan’s name, the notation “KC+RC” reportedly appears, while “RC” is understood to refer to Ramesh Chennithala. The space against K Neelakandan’s name is shown as blank. Neelakandan represents Uduma.

Complaint filed as Neelakandan disputes omission

Uduma MLA K Neelakandan said he has filed a complaint with AICC observers alleging that his preference for the Chief Minister’s post was not recorded after the CLP meeting in Thiruvananthapuram.

He said he had conveyed his view to AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken and later sent an email regarding the omission.

“I saw the photograph. I do not know why my preference was not recorded. I have sent an email to AICC leaders Wasnik and Maken in this regard and lodged my complaint,” he said.

Neelakandan added he was unaware why his suggested name was not entered and said the omission could create a wrong impression among party leaders and the public that he had not expressed his opinion.

He said he had spoken to the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, who was “convinced” about the matter. However, he declined to disclose his own preference.

Report submitted to party chief as list row denied

AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik have submitted a report based on views collected from MLAs and alliance partners to party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Amid the controversy over the leaked list, Mukul Wasnik said the document attributed to him and the reported MLA preference markings were not original. He described it as incorrect.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph said the matter should be taken up with Mukul Wasnik and clarified that he had not named any single candidate to observers.

The Congress holds 63 MLAs in the Assembly, while the UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member House.

Among the 63 Congress MLAs, a majority of support is being claimed by the K C Venugopal faction. According to the leaked observer list, over 45 MLAs are claimed by the KC faction, while more than 35 MLAs are claimed by the VD Satheesan faction. Around 23 MLAs are claimed by the Ramesh Chennithala faction.

AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik had sought opinions from elected MLAs and constituent alliance leaders. UDF partners, who expressed their position before the Congress high command, collectively demanded that by-elections be avoided and that public sentiment be considered in deciding the Chief Minister. This position is seen as supportive of VD Satheesan.

Although leaders of constituent parties publicly stated after discussions with observers that they would accept any decision on the Chief Minister, internal consensus had reportedly been formed earlier. Leaders of each constituent party met AICC observers separately.