The UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the Congress alone gained 63 seats. This defeat was a significant setback for the CPI(M)-led LDF, which saw its representation plummet from 99 seats in 2021 to merely 35 this time.
Thirteen ministers from the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet also lost their positions, demonstrating a notable anti-incumbency sentiment against the outgoing administration.
Congress divided over CM choice
The Congress leadership now faces a challenging decision on who will steer the new government, with senior figures KC Venugopal and VD Satheesan emerging as the primary candidates for the Chief Ministership.
According to News18, 43 out of the 63 newly elected Congress MLAs are reported to have supported AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal during discussions led by AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Some MLAs allegedly refrained from naming a particular candidate, stating they would respect the decision of the party high command.
However, Satheesan seems to have the support of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest party in the UDF with 22 MLAs.
IUML leaders conveyed to the observers that the next Chief Minister should ideally be an incumbent MLA to avoid the necessity of a bypoll, according to News18.
Satheesan, who held the position of Leader of the Opposition, was also a prominent figure in the UDF’s campaign against the Pinarayi Vijayan administration.
He has expressed that he is not interested in any role besides that of Chief Minister, a stance viewed as a tactical pressure move within party circles, according to reports.
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The leadership contest has now extended beyond private meetings. Supporters of both Satheesan and Venugopal have placed posters and billboards across Thiruvananthapuram advocating for their respective leaders to be appointed as Chief Minister.
Veteran Congress figure Ramesh Chennithala is still a contender, transforming the race into a three-way competition. His faction, alongside Satheesan’s supporters, reportedly urged observers to not solely rely on MLA counts but to also factor in public sentiment and organizational backing.
Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party has authorized Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to make the final decision on the CLP leader through a straightforward resolution. The observers are anticipated to submit their report to the party leadership in Delhi shortly.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the AICC team, IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty remarked, “The observers listened attentively to us and stated they would communicate our position to the high command.”
Senior Congress member K Muraleedharan hinted that the next Kerala Chief Minister could be decided by Sunday, May 10.
