Congress leaders have sought to play down the discontent voiced by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF), over the prolonged delay in naming Kerala’s next Chief Minister.
Senior Congress leader M. M. Hassan said there was a general desire among party workers and voters for an early announcement and no further delay in selecting the Chief Minister. “Those who voted for the Congress are eagerly waiting for the announcement,” he told reporters.
At the same time, Hassan clarified that constituent parties of the UDF had no role in deciding the Chief Minister and that the Congress leadership had only sought their opinions on the matter. He maintained that whatever decision the party high command takes would be accepted by all stakeholders. Pointing to past precedent, he added that delays in appointing a Chief Minister had occurred on earlier occasions as well.
The IUML, however, expressed strong dissatisfaction over the week-long delay, urging the Congress to settle the leadership issue quickly in keeping with the mandate delivered by the people.
Another leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the delay is not unusual. The process was concluding. Things are coming to a close.
Former KPCC president Radhakrishnan was summoned to New Delhi by the high command along with other top Kerala leaders to resolve the ongoing impasse and address concerns over factionalism, as the selection for the CM post entered its final phase.
According to Radhakrishnan, the word of the high command will be final and accepted by everyone.
The Congress high command is navigating between contenders Ramesh Chennithala, K.C. Venugopal, and V.D. Satheesan, nearly a week after the election results.
P. Abdul Hameed, Malappuram district general secretary of the IUML, said the delay had dampened victory celebrations and created unease among party workers and the public. He warned that prolonging the uncertainty further could have political repercussions. According to him, people from across the State, including women voters, had been questioning why the announcement was being delayed after voting for the UDF.
The Muslim League’s unease is learnt to have arisen from fears that the prolonged delay in finalising the Chief Minister could dent the image of the incoming government after the UDF’s hard-earned electoral victory, leading to increased pressure on the Congress high command to expedite the decision.
Published on May 12, 2026