Satheesan’s unity pitch after being named Kerala CM: ‘KC Venugopal, Chennithala gave huge support … only teamwork will do’

“My party has entrusted me with a huge responsibility. I thank the party, all leaders, lakhs of UDF workers and team UDF leaders who had worked hard for this election. I am indebted to all of them. We will work hard to implement all the promises one after another,” Satheesan said.

“I see this responsibility as a divine calling. It is not a personal gain. A lot of people helped us. The AICC has helped us to make this success a reality. Everything was coordinated by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal. Our former Opposition leader (Chennithala) is my dear leader. He was the chairman of the UDF campaign committee. Both of them gave huge support. We want to make new Kerala a reality. A person alone cannot deliver anything; only teamwork will do. I also have the onus to build a team to save Kerala,” he said.

Satheesan said decisions on the next course of action, including Cabinet formation, would be taken after consulting various UDF parties. “The party will decide on the Cabinet members, not me,” he said.

While Venugopal welcomed the nomination of Satheesan as the chief minister, Chennithala did not react publicly to the high command’s decision or attend the CLP meeting. However, he sent a letter to the party extending his support to Satheesan. Earlier in the day, when reporters reached Chennithala’s home at Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, they were informed that the Congress leader had left for the Guruvayur temple.

In Delhi, Venugopal told the media that he wholeheartedly welcomes the decision to make Satheesan the CM. “I congratulate V D Satheesan. With so much expectation, the people of Kerala had given a big verdict in favour of the UDF. The UDF government under Satheesan will fulfil the promises and aspirations of the people. I offer the government all support,” he said.

Asked about the support he had received from MLAs, Venugopal said, “All that is irrelevant now. My position all along has been that the high command will decide and I will accept that decision as a disciplined party worker, whatever that decision is. The high command has decided. I will now be part of implementing that decision. I am a die-hard Congressman. I will offer all support to the government.”

Asked if the decision not to appoint the CM based on the views of the majority of the MLAs would set a precedent, he said, “I don’t need to answer all such questions. In many states, I was the person who announced such decisions, be it Karnataka, Telangana or Himachal. I kept away because it was Kerala. I accept this decision wholeheartedly.”

The road ahead

In the near term, Satheesan is expected to face challenges on multiple fronts: win over the confidence of MLAs loyal to his two rivals and distribute ministerial berths in such a manner that they either do not feel completely marginalised or gain so much control that they start undermining his authority.

Then, there is the perception that the Congress has surrendered to the IUML, an accusation levelled by Satheesan’s detractors, including Nair Service Society general secretary G Sukumaran Nair. Satheesan will need to ensure that the IUML is not seen as calling the shots in the UDF government. In 2011, when the UDF came to power after winning four seats more than the LDF, the IUML had unilaterally announced a fifth minister and walked away with plum portfolios. This time, the Congress itself is strong with 63 MLAs in the 102-strong UDF contingent.

Satheesan also does not have any administrative experience, having never served as a minister. So, a big challenge for him will be to prove his mettle as an administrator, more so because he is stepping into the shoes of Pinarayi Vijayan, who was known for his administrative acumen.