Who Will Lead Kerala? Congress Set to Announce Chief Minister Nominee Soon!

The Congress party is on the verge of announcing its nominee for the chief minister of Kerala, with discussions taking place among key leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. The decision is expected either tonight or by Wednesday morning, following a series of consultations. The leading candidates for the position include Ramesh Chennithala, V D Satheesan, and K C Venugopal. This announcement comes after the Congress-led UDF secured a significant majority in the recent elections. Stay tuned for updates on who will lead Kerala!

By Narendra Chaudhary May 12, 2026, 15:23 IST

Anticipation Grows for Kerala's Chief Minister Nominee

New Delhi: The announcement regarding the nominee for Kerala's chief minister is expected either tonight or by Wednesday morning, as stated by former state Congress president K Muraleedharan following his meeting with Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi has been engaging in discussions with various party leaders to resolve the ongoing uncertainty.

During his visit to Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10, Janpath, Rahul Gandhi met with several prominent figures from Kerala's Congress, including former state unit chiefs and working presidents.

Muraleedharan informed the media, "The final decision will be made this evening or tomorrow morning. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is returning from Bengaluru this evening, and after his arrival, further discussions will occur, including talks with Madam (Sonia Gandhi)."

The leading candidates for the chief minister position include senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala, V D Satheesan, and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

Among those who consulted with Gandhi were former KPCC chiefs M M Hassan, K Sudhakaran, and Muraleedharan, along with Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, head of the Kerala Congress Disciplinary Committee, and working presidents Shafi Parambil, A P Anil Kumar, and P C Vishunath.

Another former state party chief, V M Sudheeran, is set to meet Gandhi later in the day, while his colleague Mullapally Ramachandran will connect with Gandhi via phone due to travel constraints.

The decision regarding the next chief minister has been pending since May 4, when the Congress-led UDF secured 102 out of 140 seats, achieving a significant majority.

The central leadership of the party is conducting extensive consultations amidst the ongoing uncertainty, even after party observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik met with Congress MLAs to gather their insights. This was followed by discussions with the three main contenders and KPCC president Sunny Joseph.

Muraleedharan previously mentioned that the selection of the Kerala chief minister would not solely rely on the opinions of MLAs; the perspectives of UDF partners and the general public will also be factored in.

In the 140-member Kerala Assembly, Congress holds 63 seats, while its allies include the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) with 22 seats, the Kerala Congress (KEC) with eight, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) with three.