Kerala CM-designate Satheesan meets Chennithala after reported unhappiness over choice
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister-designate VD Satheesan on Friday met senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala in Thiruvananthapuram amid reports of dissatisfaction over the party’s decision to appoint Satheesan as chief minister.
Satheesan reached Chennithala’s residence in the capital for discussions after the senior leader returned home from a relative’s house. Chennithala had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from Guruvayur earlier in the day.
The meeting came shortly after Satheesan held talks with outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Newly elected MLAs, including VT Balram and Abin Varkey, also visited Chennithala’s residence.
Satheesan rejects ‘damage control’ suggestion
After the meeting, Satheesan and Chennithala spoke to reporters outside the residence.
Satheesan described Chennithala as “an elder brother-like person” and dismissed suggestions that the visit was aimed at resolving tensions over the chief ministerial decision.
“I visited not because of reasons like you people say,” Satheesan said.
When asked about Chennithala’s possible role in the cabinet, Satheesan said such decisions would be taken after discussions within the party.
Chennithala says he accepts high command’s decision
Chennithala said he was happy that Satheesan had become chief minister and added that he “wholeheartedly accepts the high command’s decision”.
He also said he and party workers would join Satheesan in “mitigating the impact of the LDF’s 10-year rule on the people”.
When reporters asked whether any condition had been set between him and Satheesan, Chennithala replied: “What condition could there be between us?”
A day earlier, Chennithala had reportedly conveyed his displeasure to the Congress leadership after Satheesan was announced as chief minister.
He later skipped the legislature party meeting and travelled directly to Guruvayur after submitting a letter of support.
Chennithala, then, did not give a direct answer on whether he would join the cabinet. He had said such decisions would be taken by the chief minister.