The Congress high command is closing in on a decision over Kerala's next Chief Minister, with senior leader K. Muraleedharan indicating on 12 May that the announcement could come within a day — the clearest signal yet that the party is ready to break an eight-day deadlock following the United Democratic Front (UDF)'s landslide election victory.

Key Consultations Underway in Delhi

A crucial meeting is currently under way at the residence of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also present. The forenoon session has concluded, and in the late afternoon, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief V.M. Sudheeran.

Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, who is returning to Delhi later in the day, is also expected to be part of the final round of consultations. According to top party sources, Rahul Gandhi will separately speak to the leaders of the UDF's alliance partners and to veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister A.K. Antony before the Chief Minister's name is formally announced.

The Three Contenders and the Power Struggle

At the centre of the intense power struggle are three senior Congress leaders: K.C. Venugopal, V.D. Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala. As the final round of consultations progresses, Venugopal reportedly commands a decisive edge, backed by more than 50 Congress legislators.

However, the high command's dilemma extends beyond legislative arithmetic. While Venugopal is believed to enjoy the confidence of Rahul Gandhi and the central leadership, Satheesan has emerged as the sentimental favourite among party workers and a section of the public, credited for his aggressive role as Leader of the Opposition against the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Why the Delay Has Become an Embarrassment

The prolonged uncertainty over the Chief Minister's name — despite the Congress-led UDF sweeping to power with 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly — has increasingly become a source of embarrassment for the party. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph publicly admitted that the delay had cast a shadow over the alliance's massive electoral triumph.

Alliance partners have also begun expressing unease over the protracted wait, adding further pressure on the high command to reach a swift conclusion. This is the eighth day since the election results, and the vacuum at the top has dominated political discourse in the state.

What Happens Next

With Kharge back in Delhi and consultations entering their final phase, party insiders suggest the announcement is imminent. The new Chief Minister will be expected to form a Cabinet swiftly, as the UDF's historic mandate carries considerable public expectation for immediate governance delivery.