The Congress party has announced that V D Satheesan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation over the leadership choice following the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) recent electoral victory.

The decision was taken by the party leadership after internal discussions and comes amid intense lobbying among senior leaders for the top post.

Leadership decision after prolonged suspense

According to reports, the announcement was made after a series of meetings within the Congress high command, which had been deliberating between multiple contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Satheesan, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, emerged as the final choice after discussions involving senior party leadership in Delhi.

Who is V D Satheesan

V D Satheesan is a senior Congress leader from Kerala and has been one of the party’s most prominent faces in the state. He has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly since 2021 and has represented the Paravur constituency multiple times.

He is widely seen as a key strategist within the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

Internal competition within Congress

The selection process had reportedly seen competition among several senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, before the party finalized Satheesan’s name.

The delay in announcing the chief minister had led to speculation and political debate within Kerala’s political circles.

UDF returns to power in Kerala

The announcement follows the United Democratic Front’s electoral victory in the state, which ended the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) tenure in Kerala politics.

The new government formation is expected to take place soon after the formal swearing-in process is completed.

S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on Wednesday ahead of the two-day BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by India.

The meeting focused on strengthening India-Russia cooperation in areas including energy and trade, while the two leaders also exchanged views on major global developments.

Lavrov arrived in the national capital to participate in the BRICS foreign ministers’ conclave beginning Thursday. Ministers and delegates from several BRICS member countries, including Brazil and South Africa, are attending the discussions chaired by India.

In a social media post after the meeting, Jaishankar described the interaction as a “productive exchange of views” with his Russian counterpart. Reports said the talks also covered the ongoing West Asia tensions and the Ukraine conflict.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the discussions were expected to review progress on bilateral agreements and preparations for upcoming high-level engagements between the two countries.

The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi is likely to focus on regional security, global governance reforms, energy security and economic cooperation among member nations. The ongoing conflict in West Asia is also expected to feature prominently during the deliberations.

Unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning strikes claimed at least 33 lives across Uttar Pradesh, prompting the state government to launch relief operations in affected districts.

According to officials, the highest number of deaths was reported from Bhadohi district, where 16 people lost their lives. Fatehpur recorded nine deaths, while Budaun reported five fatalities. Two people died in Chandauli district and one death was reported from Sonbhadra.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed district administrations to ensure immediate assistance for affected families. He instructed officials to complete compensation and relief distribution within 24 hours.

The chief minister also asked authorities to closely monitor areas affected by heavy rain and thunderstorms and provide all necessary support to residents facing damage due to adverse weather conditions.

Several parts of northern India have witnessed sudden weather changes in recent days, with strong winds, lightning and rain disrupting normal life in many regions.