High Command acknowledges 'People's choice'; VD Satheesan era begins in Kerala

NEW DELHI: Despite the support of MLAs and the blessings of the high command, KC Venugopal could not win against VD Satheesan, who rode on public sentiment. Rahul Gandhi understood what would come if he ignored the Muslim League. The stance of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also came in favour of VD Satheesan.

AK Antony advised Rahul that if he rejected public sentiment and the wishes of the constituent parties, there would be a setback in the upcoming polls. V.M. Sudheeran and K Muraleedharan also expressed the same opinion.

When KC Venugopal and VD Satheesan fought head-to-head, Ramesh Chennithala's seniority criteria and administrative experience went unnoticed. KC Venugopal could not prove that the poster war and intimidation tactics were the creation of the VD Satheesan faction. The pressure from the League, which has 22 MLAs, was something that could not be ignored, considering the fact that Gandhi scions won twice from the constituency backed by League support.

• It is estimated that if KC Venugopal becomes the Chief Minister, the elections to the Assembly and the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency will be a challenge.

• The BJP took into account the possibility of trying all possible means to win the Alappuzha by-election, which may be held within a year.

KC Venugopal, who earlier told the media that he was uninterested in the CM race, suddenly made a volte face, causing disdain among the people. The MLAs who supported KC also faced opposition. The accusation that KC misused the position of organisational general secretary also came to hurt cadres.