VD Satheesan and Shehzad Poonawalla (Image/PTI)

NEW DELHI: Hours after the Congress announced VD Satheesan as Kerala’s next chief minister, the BJP launched a sharp attack on the party, alleging that the decision was influenced by the Indian Union Muslim League and accusing the Congress of surrendering to its alliance partner.Soon after the announcement, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared a post targeting the Congress leadership and the new Kerala government.“Janta Mandate & MLA choice gone for a toss,” Poonawalla wrote on X.“New Keralam CM will be Remote Controlled by IUML. High command is Jamat. Jamat and IUML weighed upon Congress and got their pick as CM,” he alleged.The BJP’s Kerala unit also intensified its criticism targeting both the Congress and the IUML leadership.In another post shared by BJP Kerala, attributed to senior leader MT Ramesh, the party claimed: “It has once again been proven that the Congress High Command’s henchman is the Muslim League and Ponnani. In deciding the Chief Minister, the Congress High Command knelt before the League leadership.”The BJP Kerala unit further alleged that the Congress leadership had no option but to bow before the IUML because of its political dependence in the state.“11 days after the Keralam election results were declared on May 4, Congress has finally announced VD Satheesan as Keralam’s next CM,” the BJP Kerala handle posted.“Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi know INC cannot survive in Keralam or protect Wayanad without the Indian Union Muslim League. Satheesan becoming CM is a clear sign that Congress and Gandhis have ultimately bowed down to the IUML,” the post added.The BJP also circulated several memes through its official social media pages. In one such image, IUML state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal was depicted seated at the centre while Rahul Gandhi and Kharge were shown bowing before him and Satheesan was portrayed fanning him.The posts were widely circulated with the hashtag ‘CongressPoliticsOfAppeasement’.