AICC picks V.D. Satheesan as Keralam CM designate

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday announced senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan as the Chief Minister-designate of Keralam, ending nearly ten days of intense suspense and internal deliberations following the Assembly election results declared on May 4.The announcement was made during a press briefing at the AICC office by senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepa Dasmunshi.

"Will take Venugopal, Chennithala into complete confidence": Keralam CM-designate VD Satheesan calls for team effort in governance

Read @ANI Story |https://t.co/wwnlDrfg56#KCVenugopal #KeralamCM #VDSatheesan #Congress pic.twitter.com/1edtKhFpB3

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 14, 2026

With the decision, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to formally form the government in the state after securing a decisive mandate in the Kerala Assembly elections.The UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, pushing the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to the second position with 35 seats.The announcement brought an end to days of speculation and political manoeuvring among senior Congress leaders competing for the top post. The key contenders included AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala and Satheesan, who served as Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly.
Soon after the announcement, Venugopal said he accepted the party high command’s decision and urged party workers to move forward unitedly.

VIDEO | Delhi: On VD Satheeshan named as Kerala CM, Congress leader KC Venugopal, says, "Congress High Command decided VD Satheeshan as Chief Minister for Kerala. I am welcoming that decision whole heartedly. I am congratulating VD Satheeshan for this position. I think that… pic.twitter.com/kkXT36sRMD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2026

Congress workers across Keralam welcomed the announcement, with celebrations breaking out in several districts. Supporters had gathered outside the residences of the three main contenders over the past few days amid growing anticipation over the leadership decision.Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph said party workers in the state fully welcomed and accepted the leadership’s decision to appoint Satheesan as Chief Minister.Speaking to reporters at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, Joseph said AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, along with Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, would arrive in the state later in the day for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting scheduled at the Assembly complex.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | Keralam Congress president Sunny Joseph says, "We welcome the decision taken by AICC. We congratulate the new CM, VD Satheesan. CLP meeting after Observers arrive at 4 pm approximately." pic.twitter.com/7ZyakLmDZP

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2026

The leadership tussle within the Congress had intensified in the days following the election results, with competing camps lobbying strongly for their respective candidates. While Venugopal reportedly enjoyed the backing of a majority of Congress MLAs, Satheesan had widespread support among party workers and allies including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kerala Congress (Joseph).Amid the intense leadership battle within the Congress, the party claimed posters warning of “Wayanad becoming another Amethi” appeared outside party offices in Keralam. The posters opposed the possible appointment of K.C. Venugopal as Chief Minister and targeted Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the prolonged political uncertainty.