Congress High Command’s Decision on Kerala CM Acceptable, Says CMP Leader C.P. John

Senior United Democratic Front (UDF) ally C. P. John on Wednesday said the decision regarding the next Chief Minister of Kerala should be left to the Congress high command, adding that such a move would be fully acceptable to his party, the Communist Marxist Party (CMP).

His remarks came amid intense discussions within the Congress over the leadership of the new government following the UDF’s decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. The Congress emerged as the dominant force in the alliance and is now engaged in consultations to select its Chief Ministerial candidate.

Speaking to reporters, C.P. John said the Congress, being the largest constituent of the UDF, has the legitimate right to decide who should lead the government. He stressed that alliance partners would respect the final decision taken by the party leadership and should avoid unnecessary public disagreements over the issue.

The CMP leader emphasized that preserving unity within the UDF was more important than individual ambitions or internal competition. According to him, the people of Kerala had voted for change and entrusted the alliance with a strong mandate to govern the state effectively. He said the coalition should now focus on meeting public expectations rather than creating confusion over leadership matters.

The Congress secured a major victory in the Assembly elections, returning to power in Kerala after defeating the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had ruled the state for the past ten years under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The election outcome marked a significant political shift in the state and revived the Congress-led coalition after years in opposition.

With the Congress winning the largest number of seats within the UDF, several senior leaders are reportedly being considered for the Chief Minister’s post. The leadership discussions have triggered widespread political speculation, though party leaders have repeatedly maintained that the final decision will be taken by the Congress central leadership after consulting newly elected MLAs and alliance partners.

C.P. John expressed confidence that the Congress high command would take a balanced and widely acceptable decision while maintaining stability within the coalition. He noted that the alliance partners trust the party leadership to handle the matter carefully and ensure that the transition of power remains smooth.

Other UDF allies have also adopted a similar stance. Leaders from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), one of the alliance’s key partners, indicated that they would support a consensus decision by the Congress leadership, although they expect consultations before the final announcement is made.