MLAs authorises Kharge to pick next Kerala CM

With three names in the contention for the Chief Minister's post in Kerala for the next party-led Government, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday passed a resolution authorising Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the CM pick. The resolution was moved by KPCC president Sunny Joseph during the CLP meeting held here in the presence of AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken.

At present, senior Congress leaders VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal are being considered for the top post.

According to party sources, the resolution was unanimously adopted by the newly elected MLAs and senior party leaders. The Congress, which won 63 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, convened the meeting at Indira Bhavan here amid intense discussions over the party's chief ministerial choice.

Following the adoption of the resolution, the AICC observers began individual meetings with MLAs to seek their views on the leadership issue. Earlier in the day, Wasnik and Maken held discussions with senior leaders, including VM Sudheeran, K Sudhakaran, Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan.

The observers are expected to submit a report to the party high command on Friday, which will take the final decision on who will be the Chief Minister of Kerala. The observers also met with UDF ally party leaders.