VD Satheesan to Lead Kerala as Chief Minister, Congress Ends Days of Suspense
After nearly 10 days of speculation, backroom discussions and growing curiosity among party workers, the Congress has finally announced VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala.
The announcement puts an end to the uncertainty that had kept Kerala politics buzzing ever since the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) registered a sweeping victory in the Assembly elections. Satheesan’s name was expected to be cleared on Wednesday evening, but the decision was delayed until Thursday, adding even more drama to the wait.
In the end, the Congress leadership chose the 61-year-old leader over other senior names like KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
For many party workers, however, Satheesan’s elevation did not come as a surprise. Over the last few years, he has emerged as one of the strongest faces of the Congress in Kerala, known for his aggressive speeches inside the Assembly and his ability to connect with workers on the ground.
Speaking soon after the announcement, Satheesan thanked Congress workers and UDF supporters for standing by him throughout his political journey.
“I achieved this with the support of lakhs of Congress workers and Team UDF,” he said, visibly emotional after being named Chief Minister.
A Big Win for a Leader Who Never Held a Ministerial Post
What makes Satheesan’s rise even more remarkable is that he has never served as a minister before. Despite that, he managed to build a strong image as Leader of Opposition and became the face of the UDF’s campaign against the Left government.
Many within the Congress believe the massive mandate in favour of the UDF was also a reflection of public trust in Satheesan’s leadership style.
The Congress-led alliance won 102 seats in the Kerala Assembly elections, comfortably defeating the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Pinarayi Vijayan, whose hopes of a third straight term in power came to an end.
KC Venugopal Backs Party Decision
One of the strongest contenders for the top post was Congress MP KC Venugopal, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and holds significant influence within the party.
After the final decision was announced, Venugopal publicly accepted the party leadership’s choice and extended his support to VD Satheesan.
“I am fully satisfied. I will stand with the high command decision,” he said.
He also congratulated VD Satheesan and assured complete support to the new UDF government.
The delay in choosing Kerala’s Chief Minister reminded many of the political tug-of-war seen in Karnataka after the Congress victory there, when leadership issues between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar created tension within the party.
Strong Support from Workers and Allies
Sources in the Congress say Satheesan enjoyed overwhelming support not only from grassroots workers but also from key ally Indian Union Muslim League.
The IUML’s backing was seen as especially important because of its influence in constituencies like Wayanad, where Muslim voters play a decisive role. The Congress leadership reportedly took the ally’s opinion seriously before making the final call.
Senior Congress leaders including AK Antony, VM Sudheeran and K Muraleedharan are also believed to have backed Satheesan’s name, saying public sentiment was clearly in his favour.
From Student Politics to Kerala’s Top Post
VD Satheesan’s political journey began long before he entered the Assembly. A practicing lawyer at the High Court of Kerala, he first gained attention during his student days as Chairman of the MG University Union while representing the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student wing of the Congress.
In 2001, he was elected to the Kerala Assembly from North Paravur in Ernakulam district. Since then, he has won six consecutive elections from the constituency, building a strong grassroots network over the years.
Today, after more than two decades in active politics, Satheesan is preparing to take charge of Kerala at a time when expectations from the new government are extremely high.
Meanwhile, the opposition LDF is yet to decide who will lead them in the Assembly. The CPI(M) has not announced its Leader of Opposition, and discussions are still ongoing over whether Pinarayi Vijayan should continue in a leading role after the alliance’s defeat.
For now though, the spotlight firmly belongs to VD Satheesan — the man Congress hopes can lead a new political chapter in Kerala.
Please visit First News Time for other news.