- By Aditya Jha
- Fri, 15 May 2026 09:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Congress, after brainstorming for over a week, announced VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala. Satheesan was preferred over party general secretary KC Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala due to several reasons, including popularity among the cadre and support from the allies. While he successfully managed to end the 10-year rule of the LDF, Satheesan is also expected to face various challenges in the top post.
Challenges For VD Satheesan
- Managing party factions: The reports suggested that 43 of the total 62 newly elected MLAs preferred Venugopal over Satheesan. Apart from this, a large section of the party also supports Chennithala due to his vast experience. The major challenge for Satheesan would be to run the government smoothly for five years by taking all the factions together.
- Debt management: The southern state is currently under Rs 4.5 lakh crore debt due to Pinarayi Vijayan's KIIFB-led development model, reported News18. The Congress, in its manifesto, has promised free bus rides for women and a minimum income scheme. However, the UDF government will have to take several steps to manage the economic crisis.
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- Ties with the allies: Satheesan was strongly backed by the allies, especially the IUML, which helped the Congress where its organisation is weak. The regional party has reportedly demanded key portfolios, including education and finance.
- 2029 Lok Sabha polls: The Congress-led UDF managed to win 18 of the total 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the alliance, under the leadership of Satheesan, would be required to repeat its performance to boost chances of Congress in the centre.
In his first response after the announcement, Satheesan said, "I express sincere gratitude to my party, the AICC leadership." "I am humbled by the trust placed in me by the party and the people. They entrusted me with a huge responsibility, and I am very thankful to team UDF and the workers. I dedicate my CMship to the people of Kerala. We have promised many things, and I think we can build a team that can change Keralam," he added.