The Congress Legislative Party, which met in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday (May 7, 2026), passed a resolution authorising its High Command to choose the next Chief Minister of Kerala, even as the three leaders in contention were involved in hectic parleys to secure the support of MLAs.

At Indira Bhavan, the headquarters of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken as well as AICC general secretary and Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi are currently involved in one-on-one meetings with the 63 legislators of the Congress party to record their choice for the CM’s post.

After the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)’s victory in the Assembly elections, a three-way fight had begun for the CM’s post, with outgoing Leader of the Opposition V.D.Satheesan, AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP K.C.Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala in contention.

MLAs who walked out one after the other after the meeting with the observers remained tight-lipped about their choices.

However, former KPCC president K.Sudhakaran, who is understood to be batting for Mr.Venugopal, indicated to presspersons that the Congress has “a bulk of good leaders.” “We have not only Satheesan, but a bulk of good leaders,” he said.

Mr.Sudhakaran, who had initially rebelled against the denial of candidature ahead of the Assembly elections, has been unhappy regarding the Kerala leadership’s stand to not allow MPs to contest in the elections.

Leaders of the UDF alliance partners, including the Indian Union Muslim League, also will meet the AICC observers on Thursday afternoon to make clear their choices for the CM post.

However, Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan said that allies need not state their stand regarding the Congress Legislative Party leader. “Does the Congress make any opinion on who should become the legislative party leader of the Muslim League or RSP?” asked Mr.Kuzhalnadan.

Ahead of the meeting with the observers, Mr.Satheesan’s supporters are learnt to have raised a demand to not allow Ms. Dasmunsi to be part of the meeting. However, this demand was not considered. The observers will convey the opinions collected from the MLAs, MPs and alliance partners to the High Command, which is expected to make a final call after talks with the three leaders in contention.

Mr.Venugopal claims the support of a majority of Congress MLAs, but according to Congress sources Mr.Satheesan has stuck adamantly to the stand that he would choose to not become a part of the ministry unless he is given the CM post. He is of the view that more than the support of the MLAs and MPs, opinions of the allies as well as the public sentiment also have to be considered.

The underlying tension in the race for the CM post spilled out into the streets with flex boards appearing in various parts of the State in support of and against the three leaders. While flex boards indicating support to Mr.Venugopal were visible on the road leading the KPCC headquarters, banners appeared in front of the District Congress Committee office in Alappuzha asking Mr.Venugopal, who is currently the MP of Alappuzha, to not force byelections. The banners at Alappuzha were later removed by Congress workers.