KC Venugopal meets Rahul ahead of CM announcement; Congress says consensus formula reached

Thiruvananthapuram: Bringing an end to a week-long period of uncertainty and discussions, the Congress high command is expected to officially announce Kerala’s new Chief Minister today. Congress sources indicate that a special formula acceptable to everyone has been worked out, and that the decision will be presented in a way that does not give the impression that anyone has been sidelined.

Meanwhile, KC Venugopal has reached Rahul Gandhi’s residence for a final round of talks. Closed-door meetings are underway ahead of the announcement, with last-minute discussions continuing.

A sealed envelope containing the high command’s decision has already been handed over to AICC representative Deepa Das Munshi. The decision will be conveyed to MLAs at the legislature party meeting scheduled for 1 pm today at the KPCC headquarters. At the same time, leaders of the constituent parties in the UDF are also expected to be informed of the high command’s decision.

One of the names most strongly linked to the Chief Minister’s post is KC Venugopal. However, reports suggest that he continues to remain at his Delhi residence. There is still suspense over whether he will attend the meeting as the Chief Minister-designate or in his role as the party’s organisational general secretary.

Meanwhile, as per latest reports, Venugopal is flying to Thiruvananthapuram on a chartered flight and will reach Thiruvananthapuram by evening. Although information from Congress camps usually leaks out quickly, the high command has maintained extraordinary secrecy this time. A senior leader even remarked that they had functioned “on the model of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Rejecting reports of divisions within the leadership, party leaders are attempting to project unity under the message of “Team UDF.” As of now, neither the media nor political observers have been able to pinpoint a definitive name for the Chief Minister. An official picture of Kerala’s next head of government is expected to emerge around 1 pm today.