Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress Thursday named V.D. Satheesan as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister, ending the deadlock in which three leaders simultaneously staked claim to the post—a standoff that had sparked street demonstrations and flex-board wars across the state.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunsi, made the announcement at the party’s Delhi headquarters, more than ten days after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) swept the state assembly elections, winning 102 of 140 seats.
“The Congress Legislature Party had met in Thiruvananthapuram on May 7, 2026, and had unanimously decided to authorise Congress president to appoint the new leader of the CLP in the State of Kerala,” Dasmunsi said.
Several rounds of consultations followed. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and AICC-appointed observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik subsequently met elected MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram.
“Based on all of these discussions, it has been decided that Shri V.D. Satheesan be appointed as the leader of the CLP,” Dasmunsi announced.
The stalemate had been triggered by competing claims from Satheesan, outgoing Leader of Opposition and MLA from Paravoor in Ernakulam district of Kerala; senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, who cited his administrative experience and seniority; and Alappuzha MP and All India Congress Committee General Secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal.
Party sources told ThePrint that when observers met MLAs to gauge preferences, over 40 backed Venugopal, while Chennithala and Satheesan each drew single-digit support. But alliance partners IUML and Kerala Congress threw their weight behind Satheesan, citing public sentiment in his favour.
Congress’s announcement triggered celebrations outside Cantonment House, Satheesan’s official residence as LoP, and at Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters Indira Bhavan in the state capital.
Addressing a press conference, Satheesan expressed gratitude to the Congress leadership.
“It’s team UDF and lakhs of Congress workers who led me to this role. I am indebted to them for that. The people of Kerala gave me a big responsibility. We will do everything that we promised them. We will work hard to begin a new era for the state,” he said.
Satheesan added that AICC—especially K.C. Venugopal—had extended all support during the campaign, while Ramesh Chennithala had coordinated work as chairman of the Congress campaign committee.
KPCC President Sunny Joseph said the party would meet Governor Rajendra Arlekar Thursday evening to stake claim to form the government, following meetings of Congress MLAs and alliance partners.
In Delhi, Venugopal, one of the three claimants, backed the decision. “Kerala’s voters elected the Congress with much expectation. So, there will be a UDF government as per their expectations. I extend many congratulations to V.D. Satheesan,” he said, adding that he would give the incoming government his full support.
Satheesan had been the most visible face of the Congress opposition to the Left front’s Pinarayi Vijayan government and had publicly predicted the UDF would win over 100 seats after a decade in opposition—a forecast that proved accurate.
The three claimants had been summoned to Delhi the previous Saturday for discussions, at which point they appealed to their supporters to end public demonstrations.
(Edited by Prerna Madan)
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