Kollam.Kerala.11/05/2026. A flow board was erected in Kollam Punalur in support of VD Satheesan, violating the High Command’s directive not to publicly protest the Kerala Chief Minister’s row. | Photo credit: SURESHKUMAR C
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has summoned top leaders from Kerala to New Delhi, reportedly to finalize the party’s choice of chief minister.
Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents K. Sudhakaran, VM Sudheeran, K. Muraleedharan and MM Hassan are among those who attended the key meeting with the party high command. Although former KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran was also invited, he told reporters that he excused himself from the meeting and would not be a part of the talks.
Mr Muraleedharan told reporters that he had made his choice for the top post clear to AICC observers who sought the opinion of the party’s MLA candidates last week. “I will only reiterate my stated position. The decision of the Congress High Command will come within 48 hours. It will bring down the curtain on the endless speculation of the leadership with emphatic, irrefutable finality,” he added.
Mr. Sudheeran said the closed-door meeting could include face-to-face discussions with the high command, including Rahul Gandhi and National President Mallikarjun Kharge, among others. “I will express my view on the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leadership issue with political and organizational clarity,” he said.
Mr. Sudheeran particularly demurred when asked if he was referring to any leader among the three likely Chief Ministers – VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. “Mr. Satheesan himself credited the historic victory to the United Democratic Front (UDF) team,” he added.
Mr. Chennithaa told reporters that the endless social media drama over the likely Congress chief minister would have no bearing on the final decision of the high command. He reiterated that the AICC has a set, time-tested template for selecting prospective Chief Ministers.
A KPCC insider said the high command had initiated extensive discussions with senior leaders and reportedly UDF leaders before finalizing its selection for the post of chief minister.
Meanwhile, the question of who among the “likely three” will make the cut as Congress chief minister seemed to have stirred up the party’s state unit. Reportedly, pro-Congress social media is engaged in heated speculation that the high command may consider a “new name” to strike through the media among rival factions defending their respective leaders.
The ongoing convulsions over the choice of chief minister appeared unabated and the Congress trade union INTUC waded into the fray. INTUC leader R. Chandrasekhar appeared to object to Mr. Venugopal’s candidature and said the MLA should be elected as the party’s candidate for the top post.
Published – 11 May 2026 19:53 IST
