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.

Tamil Nadu politics witnessed fresh turmoil on Wednesday after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami removed senior leaders, including C. Ve. Shanmugam, from party positions following their support to Chief Minister Vijay during the Assembly floor test.

The disciplinary action came hours after Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won the confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with support from several opposition MLAs, including a section of AIADMK legislators.

According to reports, the AIADMK leadership acted against leaders accused of defying the party whip during the trust vote. The rebellion was led by senior figures such as Shanmugam and S P Velumani, who had openly questioned Palaniswami’s leadership in recent days.

Speaking after the action, Shanmugam defended the rebel camp and questioned the legality of the whip appointment process within the party. He alleged that newly elected MLAs should first convene to elect the legislature leader and whip instead of direct appointments being made by the party chief.

The internal rift within AIADMK has intensified since the formation of the Vijay-led government in Tamil Nadu. Reports suggested that around 30 AIADMK MLAs extended support to the new administration, creating fears of a major split within the party.

Meanwhile, Vijay thanked legislators who backed his government during the confidence vote and said the new administration would function in the interest of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has removed his astrologer from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) following strong political criticism over the controversial appointment.

The move comes just days after Vijay appointed his astrologer, Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, to a key position in the Chief Minister’s Office. The decision had triggered immediate backlash from political allies and opposition leaders, who questioned the relevance and appropriateness of appointing an astrologer to an official government post.

According to the report, the appointment drew criticism over concerns related to governance practices and the role of non-administrative figures in official decision-making. Several leaders argued that such a move could send the wrong message in a constitutional framework that emphasizes scientific temper in public administration.

Facing mounting pressure, Vijay has now decided to withdraw the appointment, marking a quick reversal in a politically sensitive matter that had already sparked debate across Tamil Nadu’s political circles.

The astrologer, who was previously seen as a close aide and had reportedly predicted Vijay’s electoral success, had been made OSD shortly after the formation of the government. However, the decision quickly became a point of controversy, forcing the administration to reconsider.

The development highlights the growing scrutiny around key appointments made by the new government and the political challenges facing Vijay in his early tenure as Chief Minister.