India, May 12 -- The Congress party has begun internal consultations to decide the next Chief Minister of Kerala following its recent electoral performance in the state.

As part of the process, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents in New Delhi to discuss possible leadership options and build consensus within the party.

The meeting is part of a wider effort by the Congress high command to avoid internal divisions and arrive at a unified decision on the state's top leadership post.

According to party sources, three senior leaders are currently seen as frontrunners in the Kerala Chief Minister race - V D Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithal...