Congress names VD Satheesan as Keralam Chief Minister 10 days after impasse
PTC News Desk: Congress has appointed VD Satheesan, senior leader and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly as Chief Minister of Keralam, ending days of suspence following decisive victory in the polls.
While majority of the Congress Legislature Party reportedly favoured KC Venugopal, the AICC general secretary, Satheesan emerged as party's primary face in the past five years. Though all three leaders remained firm in staking claim to the top post, sources said the decision to appoint Satheesan eventually emerged through a consensus among the party leadership and the other Chief Minister contenders.
"The Congress Legislature Party met in Thiruvananthapuram on May 7, 2026, and unanimously resolved to authorise the Congress President to appoint the new leader of the CLP in the state of Kerala. It has been decided to appoint VD Satheesan as the leader of the CLP," Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi announced in Delhi.
Described as architect of the victory, he is largely being credited for party-led front’s emphatic 102-seat victory.
The announcement comes days after Congress-led United Democratic Front, or UDF, emerged the winner in Kerala polls. Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democractic Front, or LDF, missed out on a hat-trick of poll wins in the state.
- With inputs from agencies
