Two AICC observers submitted a report on the preferences of 63 Congress MLAs for the Kerala chief minister post to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday. Leaders including VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala arrived in Delhi for consultations as the party seeks a consensus.
The United Democratic Front, led by Congress, secured 102 seats in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken met the newly elected MLAs individually on Thursday before presenting their findings on Friday.
Outgoing leader of opposition VD Satheesan, former minister Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal emerged as the main contenders. Satheesan, Chennithala and state Congress chief Sunny Joseph travelled to Delhi on Friday night to meet the high command, while Venugopal was already in the capital.
The observers noted that the Congress legislature party had passed a resolution authorising the party leadership to decide on the chief minister. AICC is working on a consensus formula to satisfy all three leaders.
Demonstrations by party workers in support of Satheesan took place in several districts. A photograph showing a document with apparent MLA preferences for Venugopal sparked controversy, but Wasnik stated that the document is not based on facts.
