Process of Government Formation Accelerates in Kerala; Majority of MLAs Favor Venugopal

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Following the Congress-led alliance securing a clear majority in the Kerala Assembly elections, Congress National General Secretary K.C. Venugopal has garnered significant support in the race for the Chief Minister's post. During one-on-one consultations conducted by the party's central observers, 47 out of the 63 MLAs expressed their preference for Venugopal as the Chief Minister. This includes the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Sunny Joseph.
Leaders such as Sunny Joseph, Sandeep G. Warrier, Sajeev Joseph, T.O. Mohan, and Usha Vijayan have also expressed their concurrence in support of Venugopal. With the majority of newly elected MLAs siding with Venugopal, this comes as a major setback for the other contender, Ramesh Chennithala. Chennithala has secured the support of only 8 MLAs, while the incumbent Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, has the backing of 6 MLAs.
The observers appointed by the Congress High Command—Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik—held one-on-one discussions with the MLAs. Additionally, separate meetings were held with Congress MPs and senior leaders. While three former KPCC presidents have extended their support to Satheesan, several senior leaders have prioritized Venugopal.
During the meeting of the party's legislative wing, the authority to make the final decision regarding the Chief Minister's post was vested in the National President, Mallikarjun Kharge. According to sources, the High Command is likely to announce the name of the Chief Minister by the end of this week, or by the weekend (Saturday/Sunday). The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place within two days of the announcement.
Who is Venugopal?
K.C. Venugopal is regarded as a key leader within the Congress party, responsible for overseeing organizational affairs. He is recognized as a trusted leader with close ties to the Gandhi family. He currently serves as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) representing the Alappuzha constituency.
Party sources stated that once this process is complete, the formalities regarding the formation of the UDF government in Kerala will be concluded as soon as possible.