Congress names V.D. Satheesan as Chief Minister; BJP points at ‘IUML pressure’
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday (May 14, 2026) announced Congress leader V.D. Satheesan as its pick for the post of Kerala Chief Minister, putting an end to the high drama and suspense that lasted all of ten days after the declaration of the State Assembly election results on May 4.
The announcement was made in the press briefing by Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik, and Deepa Dasmunshi at the AICC Office.
With the announcement, Congress will proceed to form the government in the State, ending days of speculation as the top leaders tussled among themselves for the post.
CM-designate V.D. Satheesan said that he would take into confidence senior Congress leaders and candidates for the top post, K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, and called for “collective effort” in governance.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had won 102 of the 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly polls, ending the 10-year rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).
