Wayanad To Be Next Amethi: Posters Warn Gandhis On Kerala Chief Minister Pick

A warning from Rahul Gandhi against reducing the race for Kerala top post to a poster war among supporters, appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Posters have come up in Kerala's Wayanad -- the constituency of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- warning Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi against picking KC Venugopal for the state's top post.

"Mr Rahul, KC might be your bag bearer but people of Kerala never forgive you (sic)," read one of the posters. "Wayanad can be the next Amethi," read another, citing the Gandhi family bastion in Uttar Pradesh that had voted out Rahul Gandhi and elected the BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019. 

The euphoria over the Congress-led UDF's massive victory over the Left, which had been in power for a decade, was short-lived. An ugly tussle between supporters of the state leaders broke out across Kerala since it became clear that the party's central leadership backed KC Venugopal - General Secretary who is mostly identified with the power hub in Delhi - for the post of Chief Minister. Later, a majority of the MLAs told the party's observers that they backed him too.

Supporters of the two state leaders aspiring for the post - VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala -- responded with pressure tactics and shows of strength. 

While posters and cutouts of KC Venugopal adorned party offices in Thiruvananthapuram, VD Satheesan's loyalists used posters, protests and demonstrations, putting up a show of strength they hoped the Central leaders would not ignore. 

Last week, at a meeting with the three Chief Ministerial post aspirants, Rahul Gandhi warned against pressure tactics being employed by two of the candidates.

Sources have said the Congress high command wants Satheesan to be a key minister within a government led by KC Venugopal. Ramesh Chennithala could potentially be appointed as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Satheesan has made it clear that he would not accept anything other than the top job, placing the central leaders in a dilemma.

The leadership is aware of the potential damage that could result from upsetting Satheesan, who has been leading the battle against the Left in the state and also has the backing of ally IUML (Indian Union Muslim League). He also happens to be the people's choice.

The party's central leaders have held several rounds of discussions with the state leaders in hope of breaking the impasse. It has already been eight days since the declaration of results. 

The delay has left the Congress open to swipes from the BJP and allegations of "indecisiveness". 

Earlier today, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took a swipe at the Congress, saying the party appeared to have a "plan to give five Chief Ministers in five years".