Thiruvananthapuram, 16 April (H.S.):

Senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan on Thursday strongly criticised the ongoing discussions within the party over the chief ministerial candidate ahead of the Kerala Assembly election results, cautioning leaders against creating unnecessary speculation.

Taking a firm stand, Muraleedharan said no individual should attempt to project themselves as a frontrunner for the top post before the election outcome is declared. He warned that such moves could create a negative perception among the public and undermine the collective spirit of the United Democratic Front (UDF).

“There are established procedures within the party to elect the Parliamentary Party leader. It is not appropriate to highlight or promote any individual before that process begins,” he said. Referring to a remark by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Muraleedharan added that politics is a “team performance,” and not an arena for individual display.

Muraleedharan emphasised that there was no need for public statements or internal noise at this stage, noting that all decisions would be taken at the appropriate time. He urged party members to wait until the results are announced on May 4 before engaging in any leadership discussions.

He further clarified that no leader’s name is currently under consideration for the chief minister’s post. Highlighting the coalition nature of the UDF, he pointed out that all allies, including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is expected to win around 22 seats, have contributed to the alliance’s performance.

Calling for restraint, Muraleedharan reiterated that unnecessary debates should be avoided, stressing that the final decision on leadership would rest with the party high command after due process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman