Indian National Congress on Wednesday confirmed that it will announce its choice for the next Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday, bringing an end to days of speculation and internal deliberations following the party’s decisive Assembly election victory.
The announcement came after a nearly 40-minute meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at Kharge’s residence in Delhi.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the leadership had completed consultations with Kerala leaders and that the final decision would be made public the next day.
He stated that the Congress high command had concluded all discussions authorized by members of the Congress Legislature Party in Kerala and would formally announce the new chief minister on Thursday.
When asked whether the declaration would be made from Delhi or Kerala, Ramesh reiterated only that the official announcement would come tomorrow.
Congress explains delay in decision
Earlier in the day, Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph had hinted that the decision was nearing completion. He said internal discussions had effectively ended and only the final approval from the central leadership remained pending.
Joseph also suggested that the delay may have been linked to the hospitalisation of Sonia Gandhi, adding that the final announcement would come from Delhi.
The Congress led United Democratic Front secured a commanding two thirds majority in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on May 4.
Despite the emphatic win, the party spent several days holding extensive consultations with senior state leaders and former office bearers before reaching a final consensus on the chief ministerial face.
Among the names considered frontrunners for the post are K C Venugopal, outgoing Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala.
