Kerala CM pick: Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to take final call after 3-hour meet
Synopsis
Kerala CM suspense deepens
Suspense over the Indian National Congress's choice for the next Chief Minister of Kerala deepened on Saturday, 9 May, after nearly three hours of closed-door deliberations at Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge's residence in New Delhi. Senior party sources confirmed that the final decision rests with Kharge and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, with a formal announcement expected before 23 May.
What Happened at Kharge's Residence
The high-level meeting was attended by key Kerala Congress leaders, including V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala. The discussions centred on finalising the leadership transition following the party's strong electoral performance in the state. Despite prolonged back-to-back consultations, the party refrained from making any announcement, signalling that internal deliberations are ongoing.
All three leaders briefly returned to Kharge's residence before departing later in the evening, underlining the intensity of the consultations.
What the Party Said
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi said:
