The Congress has also reportedly promised allies future accommodations to address any dissatisfaction. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Ahead of the new government formation in Kerala, the Congress leadership on Sunday (May 17, 2026) continued its negotiations with United Democratic Front (UDF) allies over Cabinet-related decisions and the sharing of ministerial portfolios.
Amidst whispers in the corridors of power taking and talks with single-MLA allies, all eyes are on how the Congress would ultimately divide power before the swearing-in ceremony on Monday (May 18, 2026).
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While Congress insiders said a “clear picture” would emerge before 1 p.m., the leadership is understood to have requested allies to make compromises and strike a middle ground. This comes ahead of the 2 p.m. deadline for Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan to submit the list of Council of Ministers to Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlerkar.
The Congress has also reportedly promised allies future accommodations to address any dissatisfaction.
Congress insiders confirmed reports that Mani C. Kappan, Nationalist Congress Kerala’s MLA-elect, who felled Kerala Congress (M) chairperson Jose K. Mani in a high-profile battle for Pala constituency, has rejected the demand that single-legislator parties agree to “term-sharing” in the Cabinet.
Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob), MLA-elect from Piravom, has also demanded a full term in the government. Kerala Congress leader P.J. Joseph has demanded two Cabinet ministers for his party, which has seven MLA-designates.
According to Congress insiders, the inclusion of Shibu Baby John of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and lone MLA-elect of the Communist Marxist Party, C.P. John, was “almost a given”.
Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan’s office confirmed that the Congress has allocated five Cabinet berths to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest constituent of the UDF.
IUML national general secretary and MLA-elect P.K. Kunhalikutty’s inclusion in a senior position was a certainty.
UDF insiders said the IUML was reportedly weighing the names of K.M. Shaji, N. Shamshudeen, Parakkal Abdulla, V.E. Abdul Gafoor and P.K. Basheer as Cabinet ministers. The IUML has reportedly made a pitch for the Industries and IT portfolios, as well as Education, Public Works, Local Self-Government, and Urban Affairs, some of which the party had held in the Oommen Chandy government (2011-16).
The UDF also has to decide how to “reward” Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] rebels who aligned with the Congress-led alliance after acrimoniously parting ways with the party. Foremost among them is former CPI(M) leader and former Public Works (PWD) Minister G. Sudhakaran, who won the Ambalapuzha constituency in Alappuzha —a Left Democratic Front (LDF) stronghold — by a huge margin.
Mr. Sudhakaran told reporters in Alappuzha that he would neither seek nor decline a ministerial berth. CPI(M) rebel T.K. Govindan, MLA-elect from Taliparamba in Kannur, met senior leader Ramesh Chennithala at the latter’s residence.
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CPI(M) dissident and senior politician, V. Kunhikrishnan, MLA-elect from Payannur in Kannur, also met Mr. Chennithala. He sought to correct his portrayal as the “first non-communist” to win from the CPI(M) stronghold, by insisting that he remained “an untainted Communist and first non-CPI(M) member” to bag the constituency.
Meanwhile, KPCC President Sunny Joseph, MLA, demurred when queried by reporters in Thiruvananthapuram about ministerial berth-sharing discussions between allies and various factions in the Congress in Kerala. “UDF will have a meritorious Cabinet”, he said.
Published – May 17, 2026 11:51 am IST
