VD Satheesan to take oath as Kerala Chief Minister on May 18

The Congress on Thursday formally announced Satheesan as the chief ministerial pick following the United Democratic Front's emphatic victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. He will take oath as the Kerala CM on May 18.

In Short

• Congress Legislature Party unanimously elects Satheesan as leader
• Satheesan vows to usher in ‘new Kerala’ after UDF’s big win
• Says Cabinet to be formed after consultations with party leadership

Congress leader V D Satheesan will take oath as the next Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18 after being unanimously elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader on Thursday.

The resolution electing Satheesan as the CLP leader was moved by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph and seconded by senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan during a meeting held at the Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who was absent from the meeting, sent a letter extending support to Satheesan, as per a PTI report.

The CLP meeting came hours after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) formally announced Satheesan as the chief ministerial pick following the United Democratic Front's emphatic victory in the Kerala Assembly elections.

Soon after his election as CLP leader, Satheesan, accompanied by senior Congress leaders including KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and AICC Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi, met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan, as per PTI report.

During the meeting, the Congress delegation submitted letters of support from UDF alliance partners to formally stake claim to form the next government in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Satheesan thanked the Congress leadership for entrusting him with what he described as a “huge responsibility”.

“The people of Kerala have given us a big responsibility. They ended a 10-year-long Left rule and gave us power by helping us win 102 of the 140 assembly seats. What we promised to the public, we will fulfil one-by-one,” he said.

He said the new government would focus on improving people’s living standards and ushering in a “new Kerala” and a “puthu yugam” (new era).

Satheesan also thanked senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, and Chennithala for their support during the campaign and government formation process.

Satheesan said he would continue to take both Venugopal and Chennithala into confidence going forward. Both leaders were considered contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Describing the chief minister’s post as a “divine gift”, Satheesan said the mandate was not personal but belonged to party workers and alliance partners.

He also appealed for support from all sections of society and the opposition to help rebuild the state. “We need to build a good team. No one can do anything on their own,” he said.

Responding to questions about the delay in announcing the chief ministerial candidate, Satheesan said the Congress leadership had followed due process and consulted MLAs, MPs and senior leaders before taking a decision.

“The Congress has a galaxy of leaders,” he said, adding that the UDF’s victory was possible because the alliance functioned as a united team.

On cabinet formation, Satheesan clarified that ministers would be decided by the party leadership after consultations with senior leaders.

- Ends