Congress MP Tariq Anwar on Wednesday, 13 May said that a slight delay in finalising the United Democratic Front (UDF)'s Chief Ministerial pick for Kerala is entirely natural, emphasising that the Indian National Congress (INC) has always sought to make decisions through collective participation and consensus.

Why the Kerala CM Decision Is Taking Time

Uncertainty continues over who will lead the UDF government in Kerala, with senior Congress leaders V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and K. C. Venugopal emerging as the top frontrunners for the Chief Ministerial post. Anwar noted that the alliance involves several parties, all of whom need to be consulted before a name is finalised.

"It takes some time to build a consensus. In Kerala, we have an alliance with several parties, and they also need to be taken into confidence. The MLAs who have won also need to be consulted. The effort of the Indian National Congress has always been that every decision should be taken through consensus and with everyone's participation," Anwar said.

He further added: "We are even trying to take outside supporters into confidence, so there may be a slight delay." This signals that the UDF's majority may hinge on outside support, making the CM pick a delicate balancing act with real governance consequences from day one.

Anwar on TVK Government's Floor Test in Tamil Nadu

Reacting to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government passing the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 144 votes in favour, Anwar described it as a positive development. He noted that under constitutional provisions, a government that wins a confidence vote cannot be challenged through a no-confidence motion for six months afterwards.

"Therefore, this government will function quite comfortably for the next six months," he said. He added that after the six-month period, efforts would naturally be directed at securing permanent support to form a stable, long-term government.

Condolences Over Prateek Yadav's Passing

Anwar also expressed grief over the sudden death of Prateek Yadav, son of late Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and husband of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Aparna Yadav. "It is very sad. He was not of the age to pass away so soon. He was a very young man, and hearing such sudden news has left everyone shocked. It is hard to believe that he is no more," the Congress MP said.

The passing of Prateek Yadav drew condolences from across party lines, underscoring a moment of shared personal loss beyond political divides. As Kerala's political circles await a final decision on the CM pick, all eyes remain on the Congress high command and UDF alliance partners for a resolution in the coming days.