Kerala polls: Coalitions not clear on top post

Or will the topmost post go to Congress leader Oommen Chandy who led UDF in the last five years or will it be a dark horse like KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala?

These questions are dominating the political discourse in Kerala most in the run up to the April 13 polls for the 140 member assembly as campaign reached fever pitch by weekend.

But neither coalition has dared to come out with a firm answer, while each front claims the victory is it's. “Let the results come out. We will decide without any hitch who will be chief minister (or Opposition leader depending on the situation).” This has been the response from both sides of the political divide to the poser.

It was almost certain until a couple of months back that Chandy would be the lone contender for the high office if UDF romps home. But Chennithala's surprise entry as a contestant in his home turf Harippad has slightly blurred the certainty about the post-poll situation in UDF camp.

Still, indications from top Congress leaders are that Chandy is non-negotiable this time. Back in his pocket borough Puthupally in Kottayam district for the 10th consecutive time, Chandy had a brief term as CM in 2004-06 after resignation of A K Antony in the wake of the Congress's ignominous defeat in Lok Sabha polls that year. In the

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