The drama, covert lobbying, and political intrigue devouring the Congress’ selection process for its next Chief Minister showed scarce signs of abating ahead of a crucial meeting of the party’s MLA designates at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

Ahead of the meeting wherein All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Mukul Vasnik and Ajay Makkan will individually hear members of the Congress Legislative Party in Kerala, jockeying by seemingly anonymous groups for the party’s “competing” Chief Minister probables seemed to reach its zenith on Wednesday. 

For one, in an open letter to Rahul Gandhi, a nameless group under the banner of ”Concerned Citizens of Kerala” argued that Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan was the architect of the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) historic win and hence the Chief Minister’s mantle should fall on him naturally. 

The letter claimed reports that AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal had staked a strong claim to the post despite not having contested in the Assembly elections had “disturbed Congress workers and democratic minds” in Kerala.

The faction fighters also sought to draw a fine distinction between Mr. Venugopal’s role as an “election manager” and Mr. Satheesan’s “political leadership”, which, according to the group, manifested as the “human face of the UDF’s resistance that bore the hopes of the campaign.”

The letter also concealed a warning to the Congress’ high command. It noted that “public sentiment in Kerala carried a moral force” and recalled how popular demand had forced the CPI(M) to reverse its decision to keep party veteran V.S. Achuthanandan out of the fray in the 2016 Assembly elections. “People here (in Kerala) instinctively resist attempts to deny political recognition to those who earn it through struggle and public acceptance,” the faction warned.

Meanwhile, disparate groups supporting Mr. Satheesan, Mr. Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala upped the ante in what appeared to be a three-way leadership war in the Congress. The feverish lobbying for the CM’s post manifested in internet memes, hoardings, and wall posters across Kerala. 

Leaders of electorally significant social groups, including general secretaries of the Nair Service Society (NSS), G Sukumaran Nair, and the SNDP Yogam, Vellappally Natesan, seemed to have emerged as powerful behind-the-scenes figures in the Congress’ leadership tussle. Mr. Nair appeared to broadcast his “disapproval” of “certain positions” of Mr. Satheesan, and refused to attribute the UDF’s landslide victory to any one leader. “Democracy won,” he added. 

Mr. Natesan appeared to bat for Mr. Chennithala, citing the former Home Minister’s “administrative experience and seasoned politics.” He said he doubted whether Mr. Venugopal would abandon his “lofty position” in national politics for a role in “small Kerala,” and stated that Mr. Satheesan had “acquitted himself well as an Opposition leader.”

Former Congress leaders also appeared to be taking sides in the leadership contest, perhaps to strengthen the legacy of their groups and also protect their respective political networks.