The Congress party leadership had been deliberating in Delhi regarding the selection of the new leader after the UDF won 102 out of 140 assembly seats.
The decision was made at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) gathering held at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
During the meeting, Satheesan was elected as the legislative party leader, with expectations that he will take over as the state’s next Chief Minister.
Who is VD Satheesan?
A prominent Congress leader, Satheesan previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala and was a key figure in the UDF’s campaign against the Pinarayi Vijayan administration.
In the 2026 Kerala Assembly Elections, Satheesan claimed the Paravur seat by a margin of 20,600 votes, having secured a total of 78,658 votes.
Satheesan has represented the Paravur constituency for over twenty years since first winning the seat in 2001, making it five consecutive terms.
He reportedly expressed that he was only interested in the Chief Minister position.
Venugopal, Satheesan, and Chennithala in the race
The leadership contest primarily involved three senior Congress figures — AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, and veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala.
Earlier this week, discussions among Kerala Congress leaders occurred in Delhi, focusing on opinions regarding the chief ministerial candidate relayed to the party high command.
Also Read | Keralam election results: What challenges lie ahead for Congress as the Left loses its last stronghold
Satheesan was regarded as a popular choice among segments of the public and young party members owing to his proactive role in the Assembly over the last five years, as noted by News18.
Venugopal, on the other hand, appeared to have considerable support from newly elected MLAs, attributed to his close relationships with the central leadership, including Rahul Gandhi.
Kerala Congress seeks to meet Governor
In Kerala, the State Congress Committee approached the Governor’s office for an appointment today, which has reportedly been approved, according to news agency ANI.
Posters in Wayanad against Venugopal
Posters cautioning Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi regarding a selection of Venugopal appeared in Wayanad near the District Congress Committee office on May 13.
The posters declared, “Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, forget Wayanad. You will never win from here again.” Additional posters suggested that “Wayanad will be the next Amethi,” while others warned that Venugopal might be “your bag bearer,” but the people of “Kerala will never forgive you” for this “mistake.”
Congress party’s delayed decision in choosing the Kerala CM
The postponement in appointing a chief minister led to unrest among certain factions within the UDF alliance. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a significant ally, urged Congress to resolve the “prolonged uncertainty” surrounding the leadership matter.
Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had vacated the official Cliff House residence after serving as caretaker for over a week following the election results.
The Congress leadership is now anticipated to prioritize maintaining unity within the party and preparing for the swearing-in ceremony before the weekend, as Kerala braces for a new government after a decade of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule.
Also Read | Keralam elections 2026: Records 77.45% turnout, surpasses 2021 polling levels
