AICC to hold talks with ex-PCC chiefs on Kerala CM

The Congress central leadership is demonstrating to one and all that it is in the middle of conducting “elaborate discussions” with a “broad set of the party leaders” in Kerala before announcing the new chief minister of the State. The continuing discussion, it is pointed out, is also designed to demonstrate that the Congress high command-imposed ban on street lobbying by interested parties for the leadership slot will have to stay as the central leadership is the sole arbitrator in making the final choice in the matter after internal discussions with maximum consensus.

The AICC sent out a message that the choice of the chief ministership is a matter of broader discussions within the Congress by advertising that the views of many former State PCC presidents will also be taken on Tuesday – after the recent discussions with the party MLAs. Some of the former State PCC presidents, therefore, are on the way to Delhi to meet central leaders,especially Rahul Gandhi, even though some of them have already conveyed their views in the matter in their capacity as elected MLAs.

Former PCC presidents of Kerala include Ramesh Chennithala, K Sudhakaran, Mullappally Ramachandran, K Muraleedharan, VM Sudheeran and MM Hussan. The allies of the UDF are now watching whether they will also be heard again. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who represents the Lok Sabha constituency of Wayanad, an IUML stronghold, reportedly discussed the Kerala matter on Monday with her brother Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, senior leader Chennithal, who is among the contenders for the chief minister’s post along with K C Venugopal and VD Satheesan, stated in Kerala that he would accept whatever the choice high command makes.