After days of hectic political discussions and deliberations by the Congress’s top leadership, VD Satheesan was chosen as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday after the party won the recently-concluded Assembly elections. Satheesan pipped party veterans KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, who were also under consideration, as the person who was eventually entrusted by the party high-command to lead the government in Kerala for the next five years.
Satheesan had predicted that the Congress-led UDF alliance would win over 100 seats in the 2026 Kerala elections, and he got it right. Out of the 102 seats, the Congress accounted for 63, emerging as the largest party. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) secured 22 seats, while Kerala Congress (Joseph) won seven. The Revolutionary Socialist Party took three seats, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) won one.
WHO IS VD SATHEESAN?
VD Satheesan emerged as one of the defining political figures of Kerala’s contemporary politics, and his elevation as Chief Minister marked the culmination of a long public career built on electoral consistency, organisational leadership and an assertive opposition role.
Chosen after 10 days of intense consultations within the Congress following the UDF’s Assembly victory, Satheesan’s selection signals the party’s decision to reward the leader who rebuilt its political fortunes in the state.
At 61, Satheesan is set to take office with a reputation as both a strategist and a mass leader. A six-time MLA from Paravur in Ernakulam district, he has held the constituency since 2001 and has not lost an election there since.
His only electoral setback came in 1996, when he made his Assembly debut and lost to CPI candidate P Raju. That defeat, however, proved to be a brief interruption in what became one of the most stable electoral careers in Kerala politics.
His rise to the top office has been shaped by a steady climb through student activism, party organisation and legislative leadership.
POLITICAL JOURNEY
Satheesan’s political journey began on campuses, where he served as chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi University Union in 1986-87.
He later became secretary of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) – the student body of the Congress – establishing himself early as a skilled organiser.
His career within the Congress continued upward as he served as vice-president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and later as chief whip of the party in the Kerala Assembly.
A graduate professional by qualification, Satheesan practised law in the Kerala High Court before dedicating himself fully to politics.
His legal training sharpened his already formidable debating ability, and over the years he became known as one of the most effective orators in Kerala public life.
Even during his college years, he stood out for his debating skills, a trait that later made him the Congress’s most visible voice inside the Assembly.
THE 2021 SETBACK, 2026 RESURGENCE
His turning point came in May 2021, when the Congress-led UDF suffered a heavy defeat in the Assembly elections.
In the aftermath, Satheesan replaced Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of the Opposition. At a time when the Congress in Kerala was battling internal divisions and low morale, he was tasked with rebuilding the Opposition.
Over the next five years, he transformed that role into a political launchpad, relentlessly targeting the Left government over corruption, governance and economic issues while simultaneously unifying the UDF’s organisational machinery.
Satheesan’s political instincts also strengthened his stature. He accurately predicted outcomes in several bypolls, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2025 local body polls, building an image as a leader with a keen understanding of electoral ground realities.
Under his stewardship, the UDF won 18 of Kerala’s 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2024, a decisive comeback that laid the foundation for the Assembly win.
His 30-day UDF Puthuyuga Yatra from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram between February and March 2026 further cemented his leadership, taking his campaign directly to the people.
He had publicly projected that the UDF would cross 100 seats — a forecast many dismissed but which reflected his confidence in the coalition’s momentum.
As Chief Minister, Satheesan is expected to bring the same aggressive political style to governance: direct communication, strong administrative oversight and a focus on restoring public trust.
For many in Kerala, he represents not just a change in government, but the face of the Congress’s revival after years in opposition.
– Ends
Published On:
May 14, 2026 13:02 IST
