The Union defence minister and CWC member, Mr A.K. Antony, on Thursday said the United Democratic Front, the Congress and the people of Kerala knew very well who would be the chief minister if the Opposition coalition was voted to power.
Hinting that Opposition leader Oommen Chandy would be the inevitable choice, Mr Antony said: “I know who will be chief minister and you know too. The people have no doubt either. But I can’t say the name now since we have some procedures to follow after elections.”
Mr Antony said this while launching his campaign for the Assembly elections. He will be travelling across the state in the coming days addressing conventions.
When mediapersons pointed out that the usual procedure in the Congress was for the opposition leader to become chief minister, Mr Antony said with a smile: “Oommen Chandy is the opposition leader, right.”
When asked whether the KPCC president, Mr Ramesh Chennithala, was contesting the polls to become chief minister, the senior leader said: “Chandy was part of the meeting that decided that Chennithala will also contest. So what is the problem?”
Mr Antony added that in no circumstance would a “person who did not contest” become chief minister. “I am sure who will be the chief minister but I am not sure who will be the opposition leader though he will be from the CPI(M),” he remarked.