‘If interested, Venugopal must go through process’ says Tariq Anwar on Kerala CM race

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar has said that if party general secretary K C Venugopal is interested in becoming Kerala Chief Minister in the event of a UDF victory in the Assembly elections, he will have to go through the established organisational process within the party.

Speaking to a television channel in Delhi, Anwar said the final decision on the Chief Minister will be taken by the Congress high command. He expressed confidence that the UDF would win the Kerala elections, citing exit poll indications.

“There is no confusion about it,” he said, while reiterating that the party leadership will decide the appropriate person to lead the government if the alliance comes to power.

Structured selection process outlined

Anwar explained that the process involves the Congress high command appointing an observer who will meet the legislative party. The legislative members will discuss and indicate their preference, which will then be communicated to the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

“The high command will take a final view,” he said, describing it as a structured internal mechanism for leadership selection.

When asked whether K C Venugopal could become Chief Minister despite not contesting the Assembly elections, Anwar said that if Venugopal is interested, he would still need to go through the same internal process as other contenders.

He added that the legislative party’s recommendation plays a key role, but the final decision rests with the party leadership at the national level.

The remarks come amid ongoing discussions within the Congress over potential leadership options in Kerala, with multiple senior figures being seen as possible contenders depending on the election outcome and internal consensus.
(With PTI inputs)