The All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers, Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken, on Thursday held one-on-one discussions with 63 newly elected Congress MLAs to decide on the state's new Chief Minister. Amid an air heavy with anticipation, Wasnik and Maken said that the MLAs have left it to the leadership to decide. Both leaders didn't give away any hints on the popular choice for the top position in the Kerala cabinet.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously passed a resolution authorising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the CLP leader who would become the Chief Minister of the state.

Responding to reporters after the CLP meeting, Wasnik said there was an atmosphere of jubilation as the Congress victory in the Assembly election was "remarkable" and "historic".

"The meeting went on very well. The first item the Congress legislators decided was to unanimously pass a resolution, which was moved by KPCC president Sunny Joseph and seconded by the CLP leader in the previous Assembly, V D Satheesan, authorising the Congress president to decide on the next CLP leader," he said.

"We held discussions with all MLAs. In the evening, we are leaving for Delhi. We will submit our report. We are hopeful that a decision will be taken soon. Everyone has left it to the leadership to decide," Maken said.

Before heading for New Delhi, the observers also met leaders of the UDF partners. Following the meeting Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikutty told reporters here that the party's stand on the issue was communicated to the Congress leaders. He was accompanied by party leaders P M A Salam and E T Mohammed Basheer. Besides the IUML, leaders of the Kerala Congress (KEC), Kerala Congress (Jacob), and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) also met the observers.

After the meeting, RSP leader Shibu Baby John said the political situation in Kerala, the UDF victory, and all related aspects were discussed with the observers.
"We also told them that whosoever the Congress selects as the CM will be acceptable to us. We did not say anyone's name and we do not intend to interfere in the matter," he said.

He also said they were neither asked whom they preferred as Chief Minister nor was anyone's name suggested.

As discussions continued in Thiruvananthapuram, support for the respective leaders V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala gained momentum on the streets and on social media. There were also warnings to the leadership that if they were forced to another by-poll, the leadership will regret. This campaign was aimed at K C Venugopal, who is a serious contender for the Chief Ministerial post.

V D Satheesan, who arrived to meet with the observers, remained tight-lipped and left without talking to the reporters. Wasnik said that the meeting was held in an atmosphere of jubilation and that the leaders unanimously adopted a resolution that the Congress President shall choose the Chief Minister. The resolution was moved by the KPCC president. The observers will meet the constituents' leaders in the evening. They also held discussions with the MPs.

In the Assembly elections, the UDF secured a massive victory, winning 102 seats; the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 63 seats. The LDF, which had won 99 seats in 2021, was reduced to just 35 seats this time. The UDF swept several districts, including Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Wayanad and Malappuram, leaving the LDF without representation in those regions.

While Satheesan retained the Paravoor seat and Chennithala won again from Haripad, Venugopal continues as the sitting MP from Alappuzha. Among the contenders, Satheesan is widely seen as the main frontrunner for the post. Since taking over as Leader of Opposition after the UDF’s consecutive defeats in 2016 and 2021, he has been credited with reviving the party’s organisational strength and electoral momentum, contributing significantly to the UDF’s comeback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 2025 local body elections and the recent Assembly victory.

Ahead of the meeting, KPCC president K Sudhakaran told the media that he would support the leader who, in turn, supported him, though he declined to reveal whom he was referring to. Other leaders and MLAs also shared their views with the media. 

Chirayinkeezhu MLA Ramya Haridas said party leaders were attending the meeting with 'utmost happiness', adding that the people of Kerala had clearly expressed their desire for a UDF government. She also said the state could expect welfare-oriented governance similar to that of the tenure of former Chief Minister, the late Oommen Chandy. Palakkad MLA Ramesh Pisharody said the selection of the chief minister would be completed smoothly without any major complications.

Former KPCC president V M Sudheeran said he had already conveyed his views to the party leadership regarding the current political situation in Kerala. Senior Congress leader Kodikunnil Suresh said the final decision should reflect public sentiment. He added that the party high command could revise its stand depending on the prevailing political circumstances and noted that everyone in the party was aware of those who played a key role in the alliance’s victory.

Meanwhile, MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan said the high command would assess the opinions of party leaders before taking a final call. He described the Congress victory as the result of a decade-long effort by thousands of party workers and stressed that, unlike in the CPM, leaders in the Congress were free to express differing opinions. He added that the party leadership would ultimately decide on who should become the chief minister.

Kayamkulam MLA M Liju said the victory was the result of collective unity within the Congress-led alliance and added that the party would follow its established democratic process in selecting the chief minister.