Congress picks VD Satheesan as Kerala Chief Minister after 10-day suspense

The Congress on Thursday announced senior leader VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala, ending nearly 10 days of suspense following the Assembly election results. Satheesan, who served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly during the Left Democratic Front government, was chosen over other contenders including KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. The decision was finalised after several rounds of consultations between the party leadership and elected legislators following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s victory in the Assembly elections.

KC Venugopal, who was considered one of the strongest contenders for the post, publicly supported the party’s decision after the announcement. He stated that he was fully satisfied with the choice made by the party leadership and extended support to Satheesan and the incoming United Democratic Front government. The Congress leadership had delayed the announcement for several days amid internal discussions regarding the chief ministerial candidate.

The United Democratic Front secured 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, defeating the Left Democratic Front led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Party sources indicated that Satheesan enjoyed strong backing among Congress workers, elected legislators, and alliance partners including the Indian Union Muslim League and Kerala Congress factions. Senior Congress leaders including AK Antony, VM Sudheeran, and K Muraleedharan reportedly urged the leadership to consider public sentiment favouring Satheesan.

VD Satheesan won the 2026 Assembly election from the Paravur constituency in Ernakulam district, securing his sixth consecutive term as MLA. He first entered the Kerala Assembly in 2001 and has represented the constituency for 25 years. A practicing lawyer at the Kerala High Court, Satheesan previously served as chairman of the MG University Union representing the Kerala Students Union, the student wing of the Congress.

Following the announcement, celebrations began at Congress offices in Kerala. The Congress Legislative Party was scheduled to meet later in the day before formally staking claim to form the government before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Satheesan had led the opposition campaign against the Left government and emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the United Democratic Front during the Assembly elections.