While many are waiting for the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s decision on the next Kerala chief minister, state Congress president Sunny Joseph on Wednesday indicated that the announcement may finally come later in the day, saying discussions within the party have been completed and the final word will come from Delhi.
The final announcement awaits the approval of the Congress high command, Joseph said, adding that Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the hospital may have caused a slight delay in the decision-making process.
“We expect the name of the Prime Minister to be announced today. It is understood that all discussions have been completed. We are awaiting the announcement today. Sonia Gandhi was in the hospital, so there may be a slight delay due to that. The name of the Prime Minister will be announced from Delhi,” Joseph said.
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Why the long wait for Keralam CM?
The remarks come eight days after the Congress-led United Democratic Front secured a sweeping mandate in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, but is yet to formally announce its candidate for the chief minister’s post.
Congress parliamentary party president Sonia Gandhi underwent a routine medical check-up at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Wednesday. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that she returned home after the medical examination.
The Congress high command is holding consultations in New Delhi with top leaders of Kerala to finalize the chief minister’s post. Leader of Opposition V D Sathisan, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala are among the front-runners for the post.
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“CM expected soon”
Earlier in the day, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty also indicated that a decision on the prime minister is expected soon, adding that alliance-level discussions will continue after the Congress finalizes its selection.
The IUC held an emergency leadership meeting in Panakad to discuss ministerial representation in the new government and the possibility of allocating constitutional posts if he does not get an additional ministerial position.
The delay in naming the chief minister also sparked criticism and visible discontent among Congress party supporters in parts of the state, especially in Wayanad, where posters targeting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the party high command appeared near the district Congress committee office.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front returned to power in Kerala with a decisive mandate last week, winning 102 of the 140 Assembly seats, while the CPI(Maoist)-led Left Democratic Front was reduced to 35 seats.
In the days following the May 4 election results, Kerala witnessed protests by Congress workers and activists demanding that the top job be transferred to Sathisean, who has served as opposition leader for the past five years. The decision on the position of prime minister is expected later on Wednesday.
