Thodupuzha, 02 May (H.S.): With just hours left for the announcement of the Kerala Assembly election results, fresh political signalling has emerged in central Kerala, where large flex boards projecting Congress leader V.D. Satheesan as a potential Chief Minister face have appeared overnight.

One such prominent flex was spotted near Pattayam Kavala in Thodupuzha on Friday night, drawing attention from locals and political observers alike. Featuring a full-length image of Satheesan, the board carried the slogan, 'He who led the battle will lead the state,' along with the tagline 'Salute to the prince of conviction.' The flex was put up under the banner of 'Team UDF Thodupuzha,' indicating grassroots-level support for Satheesan within the United Democratic Front (UDF).

Similar displays were also reported from Irikkur and a few other parts of the state in recent days, suggesting a coordinated push by sections of party workers to project Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate even before the official results are declared.

The development comes at a time when the Congress leadership and UDF allies have been attempting to rein in public speculation over the Chief Minister post. Internal discussions and competing claims among senior leaders have already sparked visible factional undercurrents within the party.

Despite the leadership’s efforts to maintain unity and avoid premature projections, party workers and supporters continue to actively campaign for their preferred candidates, both on the ground and across social media platforms. The appearance of such flex boards underscores the ongoing tussle within the Congress over leadership in the event of a UDF victory.

With counting scheduled shortly, the Chief Minister question remains unresolved, even as public messaging from within the party appears increasingly divided.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman