Sonia Gandhi, AK Antony Solved Kerala Stalemate: Inside Story The Congress party's political deadlock in Kerala was resolved nine days after the state's assembly election results were announced, marking a pivotal moment in the party's strategy to navigate the aftermath of the polls. The stalemate centered on the selection of a new Chief Minister, with three prominent candidates—KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan, and others—refusing to yield ground. Sources revealed that Sonia Gandhi, the party's senior leader and chairperson of the INDIA alliance, played a decisive role in breaking the impasse by consulting her long-time confidant, AK Antony, a former Chief Minister of Kerala known for his integrity and strategic acumen. The situation escalated as the Congress faced internal pressure to finalize a candidate quickly. Observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik were dispatched to Kerala to engage with legislators, while leaders were summoned to Delhi for consultations with Rahul Gandhi. Despite these efforts, the deadlock persisted, prompting Sonia Gandhi to involve Antony in the decision-making process. Antony, who had previously served as Kerala's Chief Minister from 2001 to 2004, was recalled for his deep understanding of the state's political dynamics and his reputation for balancing competing interests. Antony's advice proved critical. He warned Sonia Gandhi that appointing KC Venugopal as Chief Minister would trigger by-elections, as the incumbent MLA would need to vacate his seat, and Venugopal's parliamentary constituency would also face a by-election. Given the recent conclusion of general elections, Antony argued that contesting these by-elections could destabilize the party's position. He further emphasized that the electorate had effectively endorsed VD Satheesan, with the Congress's allies also favoring him.#kerala #sonia_gandhi #kc_venugopal #vd_satheesan #ak_antonny
