File photo of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Amid the continuing crisis within the Congress over the selection of a Chief Minister for Kerala, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge will hold discussions with the major leaders in contention, such as K.C. Venugopal, V.D. Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala, along with KPCC president Sunny Joseph and other leaders on Saturday (May 9, 2026) evening. The meeting is expected to result in a final decision on the crucial post.
According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet the Kerala leaders only after a consensus emerges from the meeting chaired by Mr. Kharge.
Mr. Kharge is expected to hold discussions with the Kerala leaders based on the report submitted by the AICC observers sent to the State. Mr. Gandhi had instructed that any decision on the Chief Minister’s post should be taken only after taking the three prospective candidates into confidence, although the final decision rests with the Congress high command.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kharge directed the State leadership to take strict action against those violating party discipline and decorum in connection with the Chief Minister controversy in Kerala. The high command has conveyed that any attempt to tarnish the party’s image will not be tolerated.
KPCC president Mr. Sunny Joseph told the media that the final decision on the Chief Minister’s post would be made by the Congress high command and that the KPCC has no role in it. Seeking a broader consensus, Congress leader K. Muraleedharan said that the views of the constituent parties in the United Democratic Front (UDF), along with the opinions of the MLAs, should be considered in the debate over the Chief Ministerial candidate. Rejecting the poster campaigns led by different factions, Mr. Muraleedharan said that flex boards and processions would not influence the selection of the Chief Minister and that seniority alone should not determine the choice.
Meanwhile, supporters of various factions put up widespread flex boards in several parts of the State on Saturday, including in Thiruvananthapuram, where posters opposing Mr. Satheesan’s candidature appeared.
Flex boards supporting Mr. Venugopal appeared in Mr. Satheesan’s constituency as well. Meanwhile, a protest was staged in Malappuram, during which Mr. Venugopal’s flex boards were defaced with spray paint. A flex board put up in front of the DCC office in the name of the Janakiya Munnani extended support for Mr. Satheesan.
Published – May 09, 2026 02:28 pm IST
