With the counting of votes just a week away in the Kerala Assembly election, the Congress, which heads the United Democratic Front in the state, seems to be heading for a showdown between three senior leaders vying for the Chief Minister’s post if the Opposition alliance secures a majority. After a first round of social media campaigning, the contenders, Opposition leader V D Satheesan, former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, are in the last lap of their efforts to establish themselves as the top pick for the role. 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.…