Congress to Announce Keralas New Chief Minister After Ten-Day Wait

Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: After a ten-day wait following the Kerala Assembly election results, Congress is set to announce the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, the Congress high command indicated that the wait for the next Chief Minister of the southern state was nearing its end.

This significant hint came when Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh emerged from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in New Delhi, announcing that discussions authorized by the Congress legislative party had concluded, and the new Chief Minister would be revealed on Thursday.

Intensive discussions took place on Wednesday among Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and veteran strategist A.K. Antony as they evaluated the claims of three main contenders: V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and K.C. Venugopal.

While deliberations unfolded in Delhi, tensions escalated in Kerala. The most politically sensitive area was Aluva, where supporters of Satheesan gathered from morning, camping outside his residence throughout the day. Party workers and senior leaders closely monitored the political developments in Delhi.

Television crews, chanting supporters, and ongoing speculations transformed the area into a high-voltage political hub.

Supporters at Chennithala’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram were also eagerly awaiting the final decision. They remained confident that the experienced leader’s credentials and organizational acceptance kept him firmly in the race. However, the most mysterious silence seemed to envelop Venugopal’s residence throughout the day.

The sudden emergence of Congress Organizational General Secretary Venugopal as a serious contender dramatically altered Kerala’s political equations, causing significant delays in the decision-making process. He was notably absent from high-level consultations with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.

Meanwhile, another political development sparked curiosity in Kerala late in the evening. Senior Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was spotted heading to Antony’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, reigniting whispers of potential last-minute interventions.

Now, after ten days of extraordinary suspense, Kerala awaits the announcement from the Congress high command regarding who will become the state’s 13th Chief Minister.