Thiruvananthapuram : Days after Kerala state Congress chief VM Sudheeran quit the post, the one prominent name to succeed him is of Oommen Chandy, though the former Chief Minister has said he is not interested. Even UDF allies are pushing for Chandy.
[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]The choice of Oommen Chandy is backed by majority in the Congress party as well as its allies.[/alert]
The question of a successor to Sudheeran, who quit suddenly on Friday, has been dominating political circles, and also discussed animatedly in the canteen of the Kerala Legislative assembly. The choice of Chandy is backed by majority in the Congress party as well as its allies.
What has come as a surprise is that even leaders and party workers of Kerala Congress (Mani), led by former Finance Minister KM Mani, a long standing ally of the Congress-led UDF which severed ties with the alliance last year, too wants Chandy to take over as party state unit chief.
“If such a thing happens, then don’t be surprised, as Mani in all likelihood will return to the UDF fold,” a top party source in the know of things told IANS.
IUML – the second biggest ally in the United Democratic Front – is also batting for Chandy.
“We have a crucial Lok Sabha by-election in Malappuram next month (the seat became vacant following the death of former Union Minister and League leader E Ahamed). It’s going to be a test for the governance of the 10-month-old Pinarayi Vijayan government and it’s here where Chandy has a job to do if he takes over as president,” said a League leader.
Chandy, however, has made it clear that he is not in the running for the post of president. But in a positive development, while earlier he had categorically ruled out taking over, he now says that the decision of new president would be taken by the party high command. –IANS
