The name of the new Chief Minister has finally been announced after the landslide victory of the Congress-led UDF alliance in the assembly elections in Kerala. After 10 days of intense agitation and deliberation, the Congress party has selected senior leader and former opposition leader VD Satheeshan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala.
The Congress high-level leadership has handed over important duties to one of the state’s most popular faces and six-time MLA Satishan. Earlier, other senior leaders like KC Benugopal and Ramesh Chennithala were in the race for the chief ministerial post. For the past few days, there has been extensive discussion and fierce competition within the party regarding the names of these three leaders, but in the end, everyone has agreed on the name of Satishan.
At a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party held in Thiruvananthapuram in May, the entire responsibility of electing a new leader was entrusted to the Congress National President. Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi formally announced VD Satishan as the new leader of the legislative party in Delhi.
According to sources, most of the members of the assembly initially voted in favor of KC Venugopal. However, after the party’s defeat in the 2021 elections, there was widespread public support for the strong role VD Satheeshan had played in taking the party forward for the past five years. Hence, after a discussion between the top leadership of the party and other contenders for the post of Chief Minister, it was decided to elect Satishan.
Satishan has been credited as the architect of Congress’ massive victory of 102 seats in this election. The party is believed to have achieved this success due to its concerted campaign and tough stance against corruption. The incumbent MP KC Benugopal did not contest the assembly elections but did contest for the post of chief minister. However, he welcomed the party’s decision and expressed full confidence in the party leadership, saying that the party is paramount to him.
61-year-old VD Satheeshan is currently one of the most influential Congress leaders in Kerala politics. Satheeshan, who has been elected as MLA for six consecutive terms from Parvur constituency in Ernakulam district, has remained undefeated in his constituency for the past two decades. He lost his first election only in 1996.
Satishan, who started his political career through student politics, has since taken over as the Leader of the Opposition, has since strengthened the base of the disillusioned party and launched a vigorous campaign against the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. It is because of his constant efforts and strong leadership that the Congress party is back in power in Kerala today.
