The decision to appoint six-time MLA and senior leader V.D. Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Keralam is the outcome of multiple flip-flops where the Gandhi family appeared divided, but in the end demonstrated absolute unity.
The Congress has wrested power in the state from the Left front, and was thus eager that it should be able to consolidate its position there. There were three prominent and capable contenders to choose from-V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and AICC organizing secretary KC Venugopal. Some party leaders were keen that K.C. Venugopal, who appeared very eager to go to his state, should be sent. Many of them genuinely felt that he was the best person to lead the Congress there. However, there were others, who were of the view that "KCV" because of his proximity to Rahul Gandhi wielded excessive power, and if he was removed from the capital's power games, things may change for the better. Whether they would have or not is entirely a different question.
KCV had started lobbying extremely hard and his supporters put out his cut-outs and posters both in Keralam and in New Delhi, thus pleading his case strongly with the central leadership. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad, perhaps believed that it should be a senior leader like Satheesan, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and who had a great-grassroots connect, should be the considered choice. She was open to suggestions and this discussion within the family was on.
A few days before the final announcement, Sonia Gandhi granted an appointment to Ramesh Chennithala, the senior most active functionary from Keralam, who had headed both the NSUI and Youth Congress at one time. He was informed that he would be the next CM, and thus without meeting anyone, and any further delay should proceed to Thiruvananthapuram. If what is being spoken to in the party circles is to be believed, Ramesh left straight for the airport asking his aides to get his luggage and meet him there. There was than a sudden twist in the tale and he is understood to have received a call from Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, who asked him to meet Rahul Gandhi immediately.
Ramesh returned to the city and sought a meeting with Rahul which for some reasons did not materialize. He requested for an appointment with Sonia Gandhi and when he met her, she inquired whether he had met Rahul. She then informed him that his name was finalized for the Speaker's position. Shell-shocked, he politely declined on the plea that if he accepted the offer, his political career would be over. Instead, he would rather work for the party without any kind of post.
However, the tussle for power between KCV and Satheesan, who have been rivals in politics since there student days, gained momentum. A video where Satheesan was seen accepting the hospitality of a JD (Secular) leader in Mangalore, some days before the declaration of results surfaced. His supporters gave their explanation to the high command, which was apparently accepted. In the meanwhile, Rahul seemed upset with KCV over the posters and the cutouts his followers had put out. Evidently, there were other reasons as well and when Rahul should have fully backed his confidant for the CM post, he appeared to have abandoned him. Something which surprised many in the party since any leader would be expected to stand behind his most trusted lieutenant.
Simultaneously, a consultation process was on with senior leaders of the Congress in the state. It is understood that Sonia Gandhi then spoke with former CM and her close aide, A.K. Antony, who clearly told her that Satheesan would be the best choice, and getting KCV, who was a member of the Lok Sabha, would create further complications, since there would have to be a by-election for Parliament and an MLA poll to accommodate him. Sonia Gandhi was convinced, and it did not take her any time to bring both Rahul and Priyanka on board. Others followed and thus the new CM was chosen.
However, what has disturbed many Congress leaders is that Sonia Gandhi, who is the supreme leader of the party, has not kept the word she has given to people, which was never the case earlier. In the latest instance, she reviewed her decision to send Ramesh Chennithala. Some months earlier during the Rajya Sabha elections, she had asked Anand Sharma to go to Shimla and file his nomination. Sharma reached there and got his papers ready, but at the last moment a comparatively younger leader, not known to many in the capital, was chosen and rewarded with a seat in the Upper House.
There are also questions which are in public domain over the power sharing agreement reached in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar. The CM is reluctant to give up and Shivakumar, is using all his resources to somehow achieve his objective.
There is intense speculation over a possible reshuffle, where Siddaramaiah, who is close to Rahul Gandhi, may appoint two more deputy CMs-G. Parmeshwara, M.B. Patil or U.T. Khader-as deputy CMs, thus diminishing Shivakumar's claim. But all this may or may not happen in the future.
In Keralam, Satheesan's choice would politically imply that KCV has lost some of his sheen with his days numbered. The possibility of a party revamp with the new president and organizing secretary is being discussed in political circles. Between us.