GUWAHATI: The Congress on Thursday, May 14, named senior leader V. D. Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala, bringing an end to days of speculation over the party’s leadership choice following its victory in the Assembly elections.
ALSO READ: Assam Government Allocates Portfolios to Four Ministers in New Cabinet Expansion
The announcement was made during a press conference by AICC in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi along with the party’s central observers for the state, Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik.
Satheesan was among the three main contenders for the chief minister’s post, alongside Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala.
The development came a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, following which party leaders indicated that consultations over the leadership issue had concluded.
According to reports, while a majority of Congress Legislature Party members were believed to be backing Venugopal, Satheesan emerged as the preferred choice due to his growing popularity and his role as the principal face of the party in Kerala over the past five years.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a major victory in the Kerala Assembly elections by winning 102 seats, pushing the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) into the opposition.
A six-time MLA, Satheesan has been one of the prominent leaders of the Congress in Kerala and played a key role in the party’s campaign in the state.