The suspense over Kerala's next Chief Minister is entering its decisive phase, with the Congress high command intensifying consultations in New Delhi amid strong indications that a final announcement could come within the next 48 hours. Senior state leaders have been summoned to the national capital as the party races to seal a consensus candidate for the top post.

High Command Consultations Intensify

At the centre of the high-stakes deliberations are Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjuna Kharge, who held another round of discussions on Monday. Rahul Gandhi is also understood to have consulted his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while further telephonic consultations with leaders of alliance partners are expected before the final call is taken.

Senior Leaders Summoned to Delhi

In a significant development, the high command has summoned several senior state Congress leaders and state unit Presidents to Delhi, signalling that the leadership is now in the final stage of deliberations. Senior leaders including K. Sudhakaran, K. Muraleedharan, M. M. Hassan, and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan were expected to reach the national capital by Monday night.

K.C. Venugopal Emerges as Frontrunner

The latest round of consultations comes amid mounting indications that K.C. Venugopal has emerged as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister's post. According to sources, discussions held under the direct supervision of the high command have increasingly tilted in Venugopal's favour, though the leadership remains cautious about managing competing interests within the state unit before making any official announcement. This comes after days of uncertainty, active lobbying, and growing tensions within sections of the party rank and file.

Alliance Partners Signal No Objection

Party insiders said the Congress leadership believes alliance partners are unlikely to object strongly to whichever candidate the party eventually nominates. Coalition allies have reportedly conveyed to the high command that the party is free to choose its own leader — a signal that significantly eases the path to a final decision.

What Happens Next

The Congress Legislature Party meeting is likely to be convened immediately after the decision is taken, where the new Chief Minister will be formally announced. Notably, the party is also understood to have ruled out the possibility of creating a Deputy Chief Minister's post. With the leadership now racing to complete the final round of consultations, the prolonged suspense over Kerala's top executive post may soon come to an end.