Congress leader’s long political wait ends with Kerala’s biggest prize

Last updated: May 14, 2026 | 16:23

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader V.D. Satheesan being offered sweets by supporters at his official residence after being named the new Chief Minister of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, May 14, 2026. IANS

For much of his political career, V.D. Satheesan was regarded as one of the Congress party’s brightest political minds in Kerala — a leader admired for his sharp Assembly performances, command over detail and relentless preparation — yet somehow always just short of the very top.

That long wait is finally over.

After the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s sweeping victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress high command picked Satheesan to lead the state as its next chief minister, ending days of intense consultations involving senior leaders K.C.…