Kerala politics LIVE: All eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formation

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Differences over Kerala Chief Minister selection will be resolved smoothly, says K.C. Venugopal

Updated - May 16, 2026 09:36 am IST

Chief Minister designate V. D. Satheesan, Indian Union Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and other UDF constituent party leaders during the UDF leadership meeting held at Cantonment House in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. | Photo Credit: JAYAMOHAN A

With V.D. Satheesan emerging as the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s chief ministerial face, the party unit in Ernakulam, his stronghold, appears to be set for a political reset. Mr. Satheesan’s elevation as the party’s Chief Minister-designate, after an intense internal turbulence, has triggered speculations over who all from the district could find a berth in his Cabinet.

United Democratic Front (UDF) convener Adoor Prakash said on Friday (May 15, 2026) that the UDF leadership meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram was only a “formal” gathering. The meeting did not arrive at any final decisions regarding ministerial berths. Key decisions regarding the new government, including Cabinet formation and portfolio allocation, would be finalised at another meeting scheduled for Saturday (May 16), he added.

Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal said that differences among senior Congress leaders over the selection of the Kerala Chief Minister, including issues involving Ramesh Chennithala, would be resolved smoothly.

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May 16, 2026 09:35
All eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formation
With V.D. Satheesan emerging as the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s chief ministerial face, the party unit in Ernakulam, his stronghold, appears to be set for a political reset.
Mr. Satheesan’s elevation as the party’s Chief Minister-designate, after an intense internal turbulence, has triggered speculations over who all from the district could find a berth in his Cabinet.
Notably, the Congress did not have a Minister from Ernakulam in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government. The Indian Union Muslim League’s V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress(J) were the two ministers from the district then. This time, the Congress may go for one more Minister from the district, besides the Chief Minister. With the UDF poised to discuss Cabinet formation on Saturday, Congress insiders suggest Aluva MLA Anvar Sadath, T.J. Vinod (Ernakulam), Roji M. John (Angamaly), and Mathew Kuzhalnadan (Muvattupuzha) are among the ministerial probables from the district.
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All eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formation
Speculation rises on Cabinet formation in Ernakulam as V.D. Satheesan leads Congress after internal shifts and community considerations.