As early trends of the Assembly elections show the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returning to power in Kerala, the question of who will helm the government in the state has gained momentum. The race seems to be between three senior leaders – Opposition leader V D Satheesan, former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, who are trying to establish themselves as the top pick for the role. While Venugopal is not contesting the polls, latest trends show Chennithala leading from the Haripad constituency by over 7,000 votes. Satheesan, meanwhile, has managed a slender lead of over 1,000 votes from the Paravur seat. Different power struggle What distinguishes the current phase of the Congress power struggle in Kerala is that, unlike in the past, the contenders are not limited to state-level leaders. The entry of K C Venugopal, a key member of the Congress high command, has added a new layer of complexity to the contest.…