14 May,2026 01:16 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | mid-day online correspondent
Senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan. Pic/X
Senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan is set to become the next Chief Minister of Kerala after being elected as the Congress Legislature Party leader on Thursday, ending more than a week of intense discussions and internal consultations within the party.
The announcement clears the way for the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to formally stake claim to form the next government in Kerala following its decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The decision came after days of speculation and meetings between Kerala Congress leaders and the party's central leadership in New Delhi.
Several senior leaders were reportedly considered for the top post, including Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal and veteran party leader Ramesh Chennithala.
However, the Congress leadership eventually backed Satheesan, who had emerged as one of the most prominent opposition faces in Kerala over the last few years.
With the leadership issue now resolved, the Congress Legislature Party is expected to meet Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar later in the day to formally stake claim to form the government.
The UDF registered a strong performance in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly and comfortably defeating the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The victory marked a major political comeback for the Congress-led alliance after years in opposition.
Satheesan played a key role in the UDF's campaign strategy and was one of the alliance's most visible campaigners during the election.
Political observers believe his aggressive criticism of the previous Left government on governance, corruption and administrative issues helped strengthen the opposition campaign across the state.
Satheesan retained the Paravur Assembly constituency for the sixth consecutive time in the 2026 elections.
He secured 78,658 votes and defeated Communist Party of India candidate E. T. Taison Master by a margin of more than 20,000 votes.
The Congress leader has represented the constituency continuously since 2001 and has remained one of the party's strongest electoral figures in Kerala politics.
Over the years, Satheesan has built a reputation as an articulate speaker and a prominent face of the Congress in the state Assembly.
Satheesan became the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly after the 2021 Assembly elections, succeeding Ramesh Chennithala in the role.
During his tenure as Opposition leader, he frequently targeted the Left government over issues related to governance, financial management and law and order.
He also served as Vice President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and was considered among the younger generation of leaders within the state Congress unit.
Party insiders said Satheesan's organisational experience and electoral track record worked in his favour during the leadership selection process.
Born in 1964 in Nettoor near Kochi, Satheesan is a lawyer by profession.
He began his political journey through the Kerala Students Union before becoming active in the Youth Congress.
Over the last two decades, he has steadily risen within the Congress organisation in Kerala and is now set to lead the state government at a crucial political moment for the party.
(With inputs from Agencies)
