Weeks after the Congress faced a crushing defeat in Kerala, the party has chosen VD Satheesan as the new leader of opposition.
The 56-year-old leader replaces Ramesh Chennithala. The move comes amid growing calls of revamp across the Congress leadership in the state.
VD Satheesan’s appointment to the post is being viewed as a beginning to the change. As per reports, veteran leader Oommen Chandy and Chennithala had objected to the move of appointing Satheesan.
“VD Satheesan will be Kerala’s opposition leader. Youth Congress congratulates Congress leadership. Let’s be hard working and be with the people. The new generation should be the leading light. With one mind and one aim, Congress is moving forward. All wishes to VD Satheesan who is appointed as opposition leader,” wrote Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil on Facebook.
Earlier this month, the Indian Youth Congress wrote a letter to the All India Congress Committee, seeking a leadership change in Kerala. The letter, signed by 24 functionaries of the organization, including the state vice president, asked the PCC President and the Leader of Opposition to be changed, among others.
The decision about the new Leader of Opposition comes two days after the 21-member-strong CPI(M)-led Kerala ministry was sworn in at the central stadium in a low-key ceremony in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Back on Thursday, Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister for a second time after guiding the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to a historic second successive term in the April-May election.
Vijayan is heading an all-new 20-member cabinet – including 12 from the CPM and four from the CPI – with no carry-over – apart from himself.