V.D. Satheesan praises Chennithala, Venugopal after being named Kerala CM designate

Kerala Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan extended praise to senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and K.C. Venugopal after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) officially named him as the next Chief Minister of Kerala.

Soon after the announcement, Congress leaders and newly elected MLAs gathered to congratulate Satheesan, marking the end of a 10-day leadership suspense following the State Assembly election results declared on May 4.

The AICC announcement was made at a press briefing in New Delhi by senior leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik, and Deepa Dasmunshi.

Satheesan said he would take all senior leaders into confidence and emphasized the importance of collective leadership in governance. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of Chennithala and Venugopal, calling for unity within the party following the UDF’s decisive victory.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, ending a decade-long rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

With the announcement, the Congress has begun the process of government formation in Kerala, bringing an end to internal speculation over the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Party leaders described the victory as “historic,” while Satheesan reiterated that all stakeholders would be included in the decision-making process of the new government.