Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan said the Congress-led United Democratic Front government will be sworn in on May 18, following a decisive Assembly election comeback. The UDF chose Satheesan as its chief ministerial face after weeks of leadership speculation, winning 102 seats in a 140-member House and cutting the Left Democratic Front’s tally to 35. BJP-led NDA managed three seats. Satheesan, credited with rebuilding Congress organisation, leveraged momentum from Lok Sabha, local polls and key bypoll wins.
Kerala’s chief minister designate V.D. Satheesan is set to take oath on May 18, ending a tense selection process for the Congress top job in the state. Satheesan was unanimously elected Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader on Thursday after support was secured from Delhi following days of meetings. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph moved the resolution, backed by senior leaders including Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, while Satheesan later met the governor at Lok Bhavan. The choice is seen as a win for local cadre and UDF allies after a decade.
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Kerala is celebrating after Congress named VD Satheesan as its legislative party leader and CM face. The Congress Kerala Committee plans to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake a claim to form the government. Satheesan’s elevation follows his win from the Paravur constituency in the 2026 Assembly election, delivering his sixth consecutive term as an MLA.
After days of suspense, Congress leader VD Satheesan has been named Kerala’s Chief Minister following the UDF’s sweeping win in the 2026 Assembly election. Once seen as a lesser figure, he built momentum through high-voltage opposition politics, razor-sharp messaging, and a campaign that directly took on Pinarayi Vijayan’s decade-long rule and positioned the Congress as the comeback force.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) has picked veteran leader VD Satheesan as its Chief Minister candidate for Kerala. The move comes after UDF’s strong performance in the Assembly elections, delivering a substantial majority and beating the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The decision sets the tone for Kerala’s next political phase and coalition momentum.
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