- By Aditya Jha
- Thu, 14 May 2026 12:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala New CM: VD Satheesan, senior Congress leader, has been announced as the new chief minister of Kerala on Thursday after a long discussion within the party. He served as the leader of opposition in Kerala assembly during the left rule and played a key role in the comeback of the Congress-led UDF in the southern state. Satheesan is known for his organisational skills and is backed by the local cadres and the allies, especially IUML.
Who Is VD Satheesan?
- Satheesan was born on May 31, 1964, in Ernakulam district and was reportedly good at academics since the childhood
- He is the son of Vadassery Damodara Menon, a Forest Department official
- Satheesan practiced as an advocate after completing his law degree before entering into the active politics
- He served at SH College in Thevara and later became chairman of the union of the MG University
- Satheesan later served as national secretary of the NSUI, student wing of the Congress
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- He contested from the Paravur, a constituency considered left dominated, and lost to the LDF candidate
- However, the Congress leader persisted and emerged victorious in the next six elections from the seat
- While he worked to strengthen the party's organisation, Satheesan found himself sidelined at several key points in his career
- Satheesan also served as the AICC secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu and later became the vice-president of KPCC for five years
- Earlier in 2016, he was made chief whip of the party in the UDF government
- Satheesan was appointed as the leader of the opposition after the alliance suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2021 polls
- In the assembly sessions, Satheesan was known for raising the issues with sharp precision and preparation
- The UDF, under his leadership, performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by winning 18 of the total 20 seats