AICC announces V.D. Satheesan as Kerala CM Designate After High-Level Congress Meeting

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday officially announced V.D. Satheesan as the Chief Minister-designate of Kerala following days of intense discussions within the party leadership after the Assembly election results.

The announcement was made during a press briefing at the AICC office by senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepa Dasmunshi. The decision came after a nearly 40-minute meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter’s residence in New Delhi.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, winning 102 out of 140 seats and defeating the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

In the days leading up to the announcement, speculation over the Chief Ministerial candidate had intensified, with V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala emerging as the top contenders for the post. Supporters of various leaders had gathered outside their residences across Kerala amid growing anticipation.

The delay in announcing the CM candidate had also triggered factional tensions within the Congress and its allies. Several leaders and party workers publicly expressed concern over the uncertainty, while allies including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kerala Congress (J) closely monitored developments ahead of government formation.

Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan defended the selection process, stating that the high command had followed a transparent and democratic approach while consulting all stakeholders before arriving at a final decision.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (J) reiterated its demand for two ministerial berths in the upcoming UDF government, while newly elected Congress MLAs gathered at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram for further discussions on cabinet formation.