Kerala election results: Congress high command to pick Kerala CM; most UDF allies for Satheesan

The Congress Legislative Party, which met in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday (May 7, 2026), passed a resolution authorising the party high command to choose the next Chief Minister of Kerala, even as the three leaders in contention were involved in hectic parleys to secure the support of MLAs.

At Indira Bhavan, the headquarters of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken as well as AICC general secretary and Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi held one-on-one meetings with the 63 legislators of the Congress to know about their choice for the Chief Minister’s post.

After the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) victory in the Assembly elections, a three-way fight had begun for the Chief Minister’s post, with outgoing Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, AICC general secretary (organisation) and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala in contention.

The underlying tensions within the party, which threatened to take some of the sheen away from the UDF’s massive victory, spilled on to the streets. Congress workers held protests in support of Mr. Satheesan in Nettoor in Ernakulam district as well as at Peravoor in Kannur, the constituency of KPCC president Sunny Joseph.

Flex boards appeared in various parts of the State in support of and against the three leaders. While boards indicating support to Mr. Venugopal were visible on the road leading the KPCC headquarters, banners appeared in front of the District Congress Committee office in Alappuzha asking Mr. Venugopal to not force byelections. The banners in Alappuzha were later removed by Congress workers.

MLAs who walked out after the meeting with the observers remained tight-lipped about their choices.

Former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran, who is understood to be batting for Mr. Venugopal, said, “We have not only Satheesan, but a bulk of good leaders.”

Mr. Sudhakaran, who had initially rebelled against the denial of candidature ahead of the Assembly elections, has been unhappy regarding the Kerala leadership’s stand to not allow MPs to contest the elections.

Majority of the UDF alliance partners, including the Indian Union Muslim League, who met the AICC observers on Thursday afternoon, are understood to be favouring Mr. Satheesan. IUML general secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty said that the party has conveyed its choice to the observers.

Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan had earlier in the day said that allies need not state their stand regarding the Congress Legislative Party leader. “Does the Congress make any opinion on who should become the legislative party leader of the Muslim League or RSP,” he asked.

Kerala Congress (Joseph) chairperson P. J. Joseph said that a decision should be made considering the “public sentiment” and also that a sitting MLA should become the Chief Minister, indicating that their support is for Mr. Satheesan.

Revolutionary Socialist Party State secretary Shibu Baby John, who expressed hope that the new government will be sworn in without much delay, said that the party did not specify any name.

Ahead of the meeting with the observers, Mr. Satheesan’s supporters are learnt to have raised a demand to not allow Ms. Dasmunsi to be part of the meeting. However, this demand was not considered. The observers will convey the opinions of the MLAs, MPs and alliance partners to the high command, which is expected to take a final call after talks with the three leaders in contention.

Mr. Venugopal claims the support of a majority of Congress MLAs, but according to Congress sources Mr. Satheesan has stuck adamantly to the stand that he would choose to not become a part of the Ministry unless he is given the Chief Minister’s post. He is of the view that more than the support of the MLAs and MPs, opinions of the allies as well as the public sentiment have to be considered.

Mr. Maken and Mr. Wasnik told the media that they will hand over the report to the high command immediately and a decision will be arrived at soon.