Posters carrying messages against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appeared outside the Wayanad District Congress Committee (DCC) office on Wednesday, amid a delay in naming the next chief minister of Kerala despite the Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF) sweeping victory in the assembly elections.
Posters Warn Gandhi Siblings
As per news agency ANI, the posters surfaced on the eighth day after the UDF secured a decisive mandate in the 140-member assembly, winning 102 seats. The Congress high command continued deliberations over the chief ministerial pick. One poster directly warned the Gandhi siblings: "Mr Rahul and Priyanka, forget Wayanad. You won't win again from here."
Another poster made a veiled reference to party general secretary KC Venugopal, stating: "Mr Rahul, KC might be your bag bearer, but people of Keralam never forgive you." A third poster read: "RG and PG, this is not a warning. Kerala will never forgive you for this blunder."
Growing Unease Over Leadership Vacuum
The emergence of these posters reflects growing unease among party workers and sections of the public over the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the leadership decision, despite the UDF's emphatic victory. The Congress leadership has remained tight-lipped on the issue, even as intense lobbying and consultations continue in New Delhi. Among the frontrunners for the chief minister's post are Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, party general secretary KC Venugopal, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala.
State Leaders in Delhi for Discussions
Several senior state Congress leaders, including former state chiefs Mullappally Ramachandran, MM Hassan, K Sudhakaran, VM Sudheeran, K Muraleedharan, A P Anilkumar, PC Vishnunath, and Shafi Parambil, reached Delhi on Tuesday for discussions with the party high command. The Congress Legislature Party has already passed a one-line resolution authorising the central leadership to take the final call on the CM candidate after consulting newly elected MLAs and alliance partners.
BJP Mocks Congress Over Delay
Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked the Congress over the delay, claiming the party appeared to have "a plan to give five chief ministers in five years," while alleging rival camps were backing different contenders for the top post.
