‘Congratulations to V D Satheesan; will extend full support to govt’, party is more important for me, says K C Venugopal

NEW DELHI: AICC general secretary in charge of organization K C Venugopal said that he fully accepts the decision of the Congress high command and will extend complete support to the new government led by V D Satheesan. Reacting to the high command’s decision to appoint V D Satheesan as Kerala’s Chief Minister, the AICC general secretary said the leadership would have arrived at the decision after considering several factors. Describing himself as a committed Congressman, Venugopal also congratulated Satheesan.

‘I welcome the high command’s decision to appoint V D Satheesan as the Chief Minister of Kerala. The people of Kerala have given the Congress a massive mandate with great expectations. Kerala will now have a government that lives up to those expectations. I assure full support for the functioning of the UDF government and the chief minister. I congratulate V D Satheesan from the bottom of my heart,’ he said.

Venugopal added that although he had the support of many MLAs, he had already stated that he would accept whatever decision the high command took. I will always remain a committed Congressman. My greatest wish is to die wrapped in the tricolour. The party means everything to me. Even if there are cyber-attacks against me over this issue, I am prepared to bear it, he said.

K C Venugopal’s name had figured prominently during discussions over Kerala’s next Chief Minister, and reports suggested that a majority of MLAs had backed him for the post. Even until yesterday, political circles indicated that the high command was seriously considering him for the top post. However, taking public sentiment into account, the Congress leadership ultimately decided to appoint V D Satheesan as the chief minister.