VD Satheesan Named Kerala CM After 15-day wait | What’s Behind The Big Congress Move?

Congress has finally announced the name of Kerala Chief Minister after a 15 day wait. VD Satheesan will be the new Kerala CM after the recently held elections. VD Satheesan was the Leader of Opposition and had a grassroots level connect as well. With the United Democratic Front (UDF) winning the Assembly polls in Kerala with an overwhelming margin, Congress leadership has, after two weeks of heavy political debate and in house consultations, named senior Congress leader VD Satheesan as the future Chief Minister of the state. The decision follows 15 days of confusion, bickering and high level discussions among Congress party leaders.

New Kerala CM: VD Satheesan, What’s Behind The Big Congress Move?

After the Congress was beaten in the 2021 Assembly election, Satheesan gradually restored the party’s organisational momentum and public perception by building a robust opposition, conducting outreach campaigns and engaging in political issues. His party men said he had managed to resonate with younger voters, middle class families and voters who had left Congress in the last couple of elections. He was also regarded by many party workers as the main protagonist for the UDF’s unassailable triumph, which was reported to have won over the 100 seat mark. Six time MLA and former Leader of the Opposition Satheesan was the clear favourite ahead of other top leaders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi officially announced it at Congress Legislature Party meeting where Congress committee was given permission to elect its new leader in Kerala. Satheesan’s elevation is a big change in the political structure of Kerala Congress unit. In the last five years, he became one of the party’s most prominent and vocal critics of the government of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). 

Why This Decision Was Not Easy For Congress?

But it wasn’t a clear cut choice. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal was a strong contender as he was very close to the Congress national leadership and had organisational influence in Congress. Former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala also had support from influential senior leaders and the Kerala Congress cadre. It was reported that most of the Congress legislators were inclined towards Venugopal, which posed a tricky situation for the party establishment. The Congress leadership had tried to keep the party united and to prevent any split in it for a long time after the Congress had won a great victory in the elections, and it was for this reason that the Chief Minister had been kept under wraps. Eventually, senior leaders are said to have arrived at a consensus formula which favoured Satheesan as he was a public favourite and electorally viable.

This Is Public’s Choice, Not Party High Command’s

Yet another factor in the Congress high command’s thinking may have been the party’s policy of leadership change and leadership renewal. In the past few years, the Congress has tried to chip in with younger and fresher faces of regional leaders in the states where they have long term political potential. Satheesan, though experienced, is a relatively newer member of the leadership of the Kerala Congress than veteran Chennithala. He was also lucky to have a grassroots reputation for being a good communicator and having a proper public face. Political watchers felt the Congress was sending a signal that electoral results and public links were more important than seniority and lobbying.

What’s Next For VD Satheesan?

Satheesan is now left with the task of forming a stable government out of the Congress party’s huge majority. The expectations are very high after the landslide victory of the UDF and particularly in the area of unemployment, inflation, delivery of welfare facilities and infrastructure development in Kerala. The new Chief Minister will also have to be careful about playing the Congress’ factions and ensuring a sense of unity among the Congress allies. Meanwhile, his selection has caused a lot of excitement in the party circle, with regard to a political resurgence for Congress in Kerala symbolised by his emergence. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining whether Satheesan’s efforts to handle the government, party and public expectations are successful or not, and how he will influence the future of Kerala politics.

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