Congress calls ex-chiefs of Kerala unit to brainstorm on next CM

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and All India Congress Committee (AICC) national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, opened consultations with top leaders from Kerala in New Delhi on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) in a bid to clear the lingering cloud of uncertainty that looms over the party’s Chief Minister-designate for Kerala.

AICC general secretary, K.C. Venugopal, reportedly backed by a significant number of Congress’s MLA designates, former Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, projected by his camp as the architect of United Democratic Front’s (UDF) historic win in Kerala, and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, touted by his supporters as having long organisational and administrative experience, and support of powerful social organisations, are the main contenders for the prime post.

Faced with a dwindling window of time to make the crucial and long-drawn-out decision, the High Command, according to a party insider, was reportedly seeking the bipartisan support of top leaders, including former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents, to restore the period of organisational and alliance stability, which delivered Congress the momentous win.