Kochi | Senior Congress leader K Babu on Sunday said that party leaders should refrain from discussing the chief ministerial candidate in Kerala as people will not accept such talks now.
The Kerala Assembly polls were held on April 9, and the results will be declared on May 4.
Babu did not contest the election this time as he voluntarily stepped away from electoral politics. He earlier represented Tripunithura Assembly constituency.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Congress had fought the election in a united manner without projecting a chief ministerial candidate.
He said any discussion on the CM post has no relevance now and should take place only after the election results are announced.
"Even though isolated opinions are being expressed by some individuals, there is no such discussion in the Congress as far as I know. I am confident that it will not happen in the party now," he said.
Babu said the current situation is different from 2011, when the UDF led by Oommen Chandy came to power.
"Then, everyone accepted Chandy’s leadership during the election. He was the Leader of the Opposition and there was a general impression that he would become the CM," he said.
He said the Congress and CPI(M) have different mechanisms for selecting a chief minister.
"In the CPI(M), usually there is only one name for the chief minister post, decided by the politburo, and there are no alternative names," he said.
In contrast, he said, the Congress has several capable leaders who can become CM.
Babu reiterated that there should be no discussion on the chief ministerial candidate at this stage.
"It is the voters seeking a change who will bring the UDF to power. Voters and Congress workers who have faced hardships over the past 10 years will not accept such discussions now," he said.
He further said any debate that could hurt voters and party workers should be avoided.
Babu also said the role of Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, VD Satheesan, was significant, but added that the election was fought collectively and any decision on the CM would also be taken collectively.
Recently, some party leaders has suggested names, including Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala for the CM's post.
However, a majority of leaders have decided not to engage in such discussions until the election results are announced.
