Kerala chief minister nominee: Congress names Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken as observers

The Congress has appointed AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik and treasurer Ajay Maken as observers to collect feedback from newly elected MLAs in Kerala. Their input will inform the choice of Congress Legislature Party leader, who would become chief minister. Contenders include KC Venugopal, V D Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala.

The Congress appointed AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik and treasurer Ajay Maken as observers. Sources said the two leaders will seek views from Kerala’s newly-elected MLAs. The feedback will guide the choice of the Congress Legislature Party leader. That leader will effectively become Kerala’s next chief minister.

Sources said Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik will travel to Kerala after the Congress Legislature Party meeting is scheduled. The observers will meet MLAs and record preferences. The party usually consults elected MLAs in such cases. However, the final call rests with the Congress leadership.

Congress Kerala chief minister nominee process

The Congress is choosing a chief minister nominee after the Congress-led United Democratic Front won the Assembly election. The UDF took 102 of 140 seats. Congress became the largest party with 63 seats. The result ended the Left government’s 10-year rule in the state.

Sources said the observers will focus on selecting the Congress Legislature Party leader. This internal choice is central to the government formation process. The party will use MLAs’ inputs during discussions. After that, the leadership will decide the final name for the top post.

Congress Kerala chief minister contenders

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal is among the contenders for the chief minister’s post. V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are also in the running. The decision is expected after the party completes consultations. The leadership will weigh both feedback and broader political factors.

A day after the UDF win, KC Venugopal reached the national capital. Venugopal received a warm welcome at the airport. Venugopal then held several meetings with senior Congress leaders in Delhi. The discussions took place before the party moves ahead with forming the new government in Kerala.

The party’s next steps depend on when the Legislature Party meeting is fixed. After that, Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken are expected to begin MLA consultations. Their report will feed into the leadership’s deliberations. The process will decide the Congress Legislature Party leader and, in effect, Kerala’s next chief minister.

With inputs from PTI