Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (IANS) The Congress party in Kerala Sunday averted what would have been a leadership crisis when state chief Ramesh Chennithala said he was not a candidate for chief minister's post and supported Oommen Chandy for it.

 
 A grim-looking Chennithala told reporters here that he is making the statement to dismiss rumours that he was vying for the post, which was considered to be set apart for Oommen Chandy.
 
 "I want to make it very clear that I am not a candidate for the post of the chief minister. I am also not going to be part of the next cabinet.
 
 "My only objective is to strengthen the party. As a new legislator and also as state president of the party, I fully support Chandy as the next chief minister," Chennithala  said at the state party headquarters here.
 
 The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 72 seats in the 140-member Kerala assembly while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) won 68.
 
 Chennithala's statement came a few hours before the first meeting of the 38 Congress legislators to elect their new leader.
 
 Ever since Chennithala became a surprise candidate for the assembly elections, speculation was rife about a possible leadership tussle between him and Chandy.