The Congress high command has officially appointed VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday. Following the announcement, KC Venugopal publicly backed the leadership's choice by saying, "I am fully satisfied; I stand with the high command's pick."
Satheesan, a six-time MLA recognised as one of the party's most prominent figures in the state, was selected over other heavyweight contenders, including senior leader KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
The formal announcement was made at a press conference led by Deepa Dasmunshi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Kerala, alongside the party's central observers for the state, Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik.
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Shortly after the decision was made public, Venugopal spoke to reporters in Delhi to offer his full endorsement of the party's decision, reported ANI, “The final decision has come, and the Congress high command decided VD Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Kerala Government. I am welcoming that decision wholeheartedly.”
"Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi discussed the situation and the decision-making process. They called me and asked me my opinion, and we all discussed that... I am thanking the MLAs, party workers, and party functionaries for the support they have given to me. Finally, the party took a decision, and as sincere Congressmen, we are all behind the party decision," he said.
Congratulating Satheesan, Venugopal expressed absolute confidence that the new administration would meet the public's expectations, adding, “Certainly, we are totally behind the government of Kerala,” and noted that the people of Kerala had delivered a “big verdict” in favour of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
Sources cited by News18 suggest Venugopal was the frontrunner for the top post until just two days before the decision from Delhi.
Besides the fact that Congress's Kerala ally and UDF constituent IUML (Indian Union Muslim League) was batting for Satheesan, sources close to him told NDTV the veteran MLA was not willing to accept a secondary role in the new administration, underscoring his intent to lead the state government directly.
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