Kerala Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan speaks to the media, in Thiruvananthapuram, Thursday, May 14. PTI
LIVE! VD Satheesan set to meet Governor; Pinarayi is Oppn Leader
In his first remarks as Chief Minister-designate, Satheesan reached beyond party lines, appealing for the Opposition's cooperation as well
The Congress has named VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, ending days of suspense and speculation.
The decision was announced in New Delhi at a press conference by AICC in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunsi and the party's central observers for the state Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, as well as Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh.
The three main contenders for the post of chief minister were Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
Accordingly, the Congress president has held extensive discussions with the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi; the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi; AICC observers who met the newly elected MLAs; and many other leaders, including MPs and former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs.
VD Satheesan, set to take over as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister, struck a measured and inclusive tone as he addressed the media in Thiruvananthapuram, shortly after being chosen for the post.
With the formal swearing-in scheduled for Monday, Satheesan acknowledged the weight of the moment, describing the role as a “great responsibility” entrusted to him by the Congress leadership. He made it a point to thank the All India Congress Committee and party workers across Kerala, signalling continuity with the organisational backbone that powered the UDF’s victory.
In his first remarks as Chief Minister-designate, Satheesan reached beyond party lines, appealing for the Opposition's cooperation as well. Framing governance as a collective task in a politically and economically challenging environment, he stressed that “everyone must stand united” to address the state's issues.
A decision on the next Kerala chief minister had been pending since May 4 when the Congress-led UDF bagged 102 seats out of the 140, which is more than a two-thirds majority.
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Live Updates
- 14 May 2026 11:18 AM IST
Kerala Congress (J) to seek two ministerial berths in UDF govt: PJ Joseph
Kerala Congress (J) chairman P J Joseph on Thursday reiterated that the party will seek two ministerial berths when the UDF comes to power.
The UDF secured 102 out of 140 seats, while Kerala Congress (J) has seven MLAs.
“We will make our claim in the UDF meeting. We will ask for two ministers,” he said.
He said he hopes the Congress leadership will consider the views of ally parties while selecting the next Chief Minister.
- 14 May 2026 11:15 AM IST
Cong high command followed clear process: Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan appreciated the party's High Command for adopting a clear process to select the next Chief Minister of Kerala.
Speaking to reporters, Radhakrishnan, who is an elected legislator from Kottayam, said the High Command had heard everyone, with Rahul Gandhi directly involved in the process.
“This is a process with clarity which cannot be questioned by anyone. In a democracy, only such a process can be followed. I express my happiness to the High Command for it,” Radhakrishnan said. - 14 May 2026 11:14 AM IST
Absence of minister affecting General Education Dept: CPI(M) leader
CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty on Thursday said the lack of a cabinet, even after 10 days of declaration of the Kerala assembly poll results, has created a crisis in the general education department and affected its smooth functioning due to the lack of a minister to oversee it.
Sivankutty, the former General Education Minister of State, highlighted the lack of a minister to oversee the department in a Facebook post.
He said proper ministerial interventions were required in every activity of the department, especially regarding the declaration of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) results. Similarly, the activities to ensure the fitness of schools, as the academic year is about to begin, are also in disorder, he claimed in his post.
Sivankutty also said that ministerial level constant monitoring and coordination was also necessary to complete the printing and distribution of textbooks on time, but the absence of any interventions in this regard will have major consequences in the coming days.
"The situation is no different in the case of teacher training as the central government has stopped the funds for Samagra Shiksha, Kerala (SSK) for years," he said.
- 14 May 2026 10:53 AM IST
What the 3 leaders are up to
Hours ahead of the CLP meeting to choose the next CM of Kerala, VD Satheesan left for Thiruvananthapuram with his family, Ramesh Chennithala interacted warmly with reporters outside his residence, while KC Venugopal arrived at Rahul Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi.
Visuals aired by TV channels showed Venugopal leave his official residence in New Delhi and then arrive at Rahul Gandhi’s home several minutes later. There were a large number of supporters outside Satheesan’s home in Kochi’s Aluva and they wished him the best of luck as he left for Thiruvananthapuram with his family.
Neither Satheesan nor Venugopal spoke to reporters while Chennithala, with a smile on his face, told the mediapersons gathered outside his home in the state capital that he missed them during the last few days and offered them tea.
