Following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) victory in Kerala, the party is expected to announce its chief ministerial candidate on Thursday after consultations among the top leadership.
Party sources said the decision is likely after extensive deliberations and meetings involving senior leaders. The development comes after the UDF secured more than a two-thirds majority in the state assembly elections, reshaping the political landscape in Kerala.
Ahead of government formation, multiple contenders have emerged for the chief minister’s post, leading to intense discussions within the party leadership.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi held a nearly 40-minute meeting in New Delhi. Following the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said discussions on all major options had been completed and that a final decision would be announced soon.
According to party sources, the Congress leadership is attempting to build consensus while considering organisational balance, regional representation and the views of alliance partners.
Three names are currently being discussed prominently for the chief minister’s post in Kerala. K. C. Venugopal, the Congress organisation general secretary, is considered close to the party high command. V. D. Satheesan, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, is seen as having b grassroots support. Ramesh Chennithala is also being considered because of his administrative and political experience.
Sources said several UDF allies are backing V. D. Satheesan, citing his support within both the organisation and the public. At the same time, the emergence of K. C. Venugopal’s name has increased the challenge before the party leadership in maintaining internal balance.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have criticised the Congress over the delay in government formation. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Congress lacked clarity on leadership and said the situation indicated political instability in the state. The BJP also claimed that internal differences within the Congress were affecting the government formation process.
Political tensions also intensified in Kerala’s Wayanad region after posters targeting Congress leaders appeared in public places. The posters expressed dissatisfaction with Rahul Gandhi and the party leadership, alleging delays in the chief ministerial selection process and neglect of regional issues.
