New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday said campaigns on social media or publicity through flex boards would have no role in deciding who becomes Kerala’s next chief minister.

Responding to questions from reporters in Delhi about the growing online campaign projecting V. D. Satheesan as the chief ministerial choice following the UDF’s electoral success, Chennithala said the decision would be taken strictly through the party’s established internal process.

He said the selection of the chief minister is not influenced by online trends or supporters putting up banners, but is made by the party high command after following due procedure.

According to Chennithala, two party observers are scheduled to arrive in Kerala by Wednesday evening and will hold discussions with all newly elected MLAs before submitting their assessment to the central leadership.

He added that the final decision would be taken keeping the party’s broader interests in mind and that all leaders would abide by the leadership’s choice.

Rejecting suggestions of any internal rivalry over the top post, Chennithala asserted that there was no contest within the party and therefore no possibility of voter dissatisfaction over the issue.

On criticism that the announcement of Kerala’s chief minister was taking too long, he pointed out that leadership decisions were still pending in other states where assembly elections were recently held, questioning why Kerala alone was being singled out.

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Chennithala also said he was in Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi regarding the appointment of District Congress Committee presidents in Maharashtra.