Who Will Be Next CM Of Kerala? Kharge, Rahul Gandhi To Make Final Decision; 3 Hours Of Deliberations Held In Delhi

New Delhi: The Congress party has secured a resounding victory in Kerala, but a major challenge has now emerged. The party faces the task of selecting a Chief Minister from among three prominent leaders. No names have been officially announced yet. On Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi held a lengthy meeting in Delhi to address this matter.

Following the meeting, Congress leader Deepa Das Munshi stated that a decision regarding the Chief Minister would be reached "very soon." However, the exact timeline remains unclear. May 23rd marks the deadline for forming the government in Kerala. Signs of internal dissent have also surfaced within the Congress camp, as leaders from all three factions are vying for the Chief Minister's post for their respective candidates.

In the Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a landslide victory. The electorate has chosen them with an overwhelming majority.

Now, the Congress party must make the crucial decision regarding the Chief Minister. However, the UDF comprises three key constituent parties, each of which is keen to see its own leader assume the top post. Consequently, arriving at a consensus has become a difficult task.

Who are the leaders of these three factions?

The Congress party has its own set of leaders. The second constituent is the Marxist Communist Party—specifically the CPI(M)—which has its own distinct leader. The third constituent is the Kerala Congress, which also has its own leader. Each faction is determined to see its own leader become the Chief Minister, making the decision-making process particularly challenging.

What steps did the Congress take?

On Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge convened a marathon meeting. The gathering was attended by all key Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. Senior Kerala leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan were also present, as was Sunny Joseph, the chief of the Congress party's Kerala unit. The meeting lasted for over three hours, during which every participant offered their views on who should be appointed as the Chief Minister.

What was announced following the meeting?

After the meeting concluded, AICC General Secretary Deepa Das Munshi addressed the media. She stated that Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi would ultimately take the final decision regarding the Chief Minister. She further added that this decision would be announced "very soon."

Why is May 23 significant?

May 23rd marks the deadline for forming the government in Kerala. This implies that a Chief Minister must be selected and sworn in by May 23rd. Should this fail to happen, the Governor is empowered to take action in accordance with electoral regulations.

What did the MLAs do?

All Congress MLAs signed a resolution. This resolution states that the legislators authorize the Congress leadership to make the final decision regarding the choice of Chief Minister. In other words, whatever decision Kharge and Rahul make will be accepted by everyone.

What happens next?

At this moment, no one knows exactly when the Chief Minister will be announced. Deepa Das Munshi has simply stated that everything will be finalized "very soon." However, May 23rd remains the absolute deadline. Top Congress leaders—Kharge and Rahul Gandhi—are currently deliberating; they will make a decision after carefully considering the sentiments of all stakeholders.