Thiruvananthapuram: Even before the election results are declared, the tug-of-war within the Congress over the Chief Minister’s post is intensifying. As the possibility of the UDF coming to power looms, internal disagreements over who will be the next Chief Minister are reaching new levels. Discussions that began soon after polling ended but have now progressed to the stage of directly influencing MLAs who are likely to win.

Camps supporting KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and VD Satheesan are actively working for their respective leaders. These groups are reportedly reaching out directly to probable winning MLAs to secure their backing. The aim is to ensure maximum support when the time comes to decide the Chief Minister.

Alongside VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala, there are also discussions about KC Venugopal entering the fray, though it remains unclear how acceptable this would be among coalition partners. The KPCC president has issued strict instructions and a circular banning public statements regarding the Chief Minister’s post. Following intervention by the AICC, Deepa Das Munshi adopted a firm stance, asking leaders to tone down their public remarks.

However, group rivalry continues in other forms. While public statements have decreased, cyber supporters on platforms like Facebook remain divided, engaging in arguments and criticisms.

After large flex boards supporting VD Satheesan appeared in Aluva, posters both for and against him surfaced in several places. Banners were also seen in front of the Ernakulam DCC office. Meanwhile, some coalition leaders are said to have directly contacted both VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala to express their support.

At the same time, indications are that KC Venugopal is less likely to return to active state politics. With supporters of all three leaders equally active, the coming days are expected to witness even more heated discussions within the Congress.