Malabar Congress MLAs Back K.C. Venugopal for Kerala CM Post
In the aftermath of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, a significant political development has emerged regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister. The majority of the 21 newly elected Congress legislators from the Malabar region have reportedly rallied behind K.C. Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee general secretary. This strong regional support creates a powerful lobby for Venugopal in the three-way contest for the top post, which also includes contenders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan. During recent one-on-one meetings with AICC observers, most MLAs from districts such as Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur proposed Venugopal's name. Conversely, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally in the United Democratic Front with 22 seats, is understood to support V.D. Satheesan. Although IUML leaders like P.K. Kunhalikutty have not publicly declared their preference, they have communicated their stance to party observers while maintaining that the final decision rests with the Congress high command based on public sentiment. This internal maneuvering highlights the complex coalition dynamics influencing the leadership choice in Kerala.
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Malabar Congress MLAs Back K.C. Venugopal for Kerala CM Post
In the aftermath of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, a significant political development has emerged regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister. The majority of the 21 newly elected Congress legislators from the Malabar region have reportedly rallied behind K.C. Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee general secretary. This strong regional support creates a powerful lobby for Venugopal in the three-way contest for the top post, which also includes contenders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan. During recent one-on-one meetings with AICC observers, most MLAs from districts such as Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur proposed Venugopal's name. Conversely, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally in the United Democratic Front with 22 seats, is understood to support V.D. Satheesan. Although IUML leaders like P.K. Kunhalikutty have not publicly declared their preference, they have communicated their stance to party observers while maintaining that the final decision rests with the Congress high command based on public sentiment. This internal maneuvering highlights the complex coalition dynamics influencing the leadership choice in Kerala.
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