Congress Leaders Gather in Delhi to Resolve Kerala Chief Minister Stalemate
Following the United Democratic Front's significant win in the Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress party is facing a stalemate in selecting the next Chief Minister. In response, the Congress high command has called former KPCC presidents to New Delhi for discussions. Key candidates for the position are K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satishan, all of whom are hopeful about the outcome of these meetings. This initiative aims to address concerns about inclusivity among party stakeholders and ensure a well-considered decision. Insights from these discussions will guide the final selection process.
May 12, 2026, 12:48 IST
Congress High Command Engages Former KPCC Presidents
In the wake of the United Democratic Front's (UDF) impressive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, discussions regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister remain unresolved. To address this, the Congress high command has summoned former presidents of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to New Delhi for detailed discussions on Tuesday. The party's state president, Suni Joseph, along with executive president A.P. Anil Kumar, P.C. Vishnunath, and Shafi Parambil have also been asked to attend these talks in the capital.
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Three candidates are vying for the Chief Minister position: K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satishan, all of whom are pinning their hopes on these meetings. This initiative follows support from former party president Sonia Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for extensive discussions with former KPCC presidents to break the deadlock. However, there are indications that this move aims to quell criticism regarding the lack of inclusivity among stakeholders.
The high command likely concluded that engaging in thorough discussions with former KPCC presidents would foster the perception that the final decision was made after considering all factors and consulting leaders at every level. Except for Mullappally Ramachandran, former KPCC heads V.M. Sudheeran, K. Muraleedharan, K. Sudhakaran, and M.M. Hassan are expected to arrive in Delhi by Tuesday. According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi spoke with Mullappally on Monday, as he expressed his inability to reach Delhi promptly.
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Sources indicate that the high command may meet these leaders in person. Although former KPCC presidents and other senior leaders had previously met with both central observers during their visit to Kerala, the ongoing stalemate regarding the Chief Minister selection prompted this latest decision. Following these meetings, Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to gather insights from these leaders regarding the new Chief Minister's selection and the overall political climate. Afterward, the party high command may summon all three candidates to Delhi to inform them of the final decision in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.