Kerala CM selection: Congress faces delay amid internal debate, PM Modi criticizes

The formation of the new Kerala government is facing a significant delay as the Congress party grapples with the selection of its Chief Minister, despite a decisive victory by the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the recent assembly elections. The prolonged deliberation has drawn sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who accused the Congress of prioritizing internal disputes over governance and governance, drawing parallels to similar situations in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Modi stated that the Congress couldn't even form a government in Kerala, where it has a clear majority, and seemed unable to decide on a formula for leadership, such as a two-and-a-half-year term for two chief ministers or one term each for five chief ministers, referencing past practices in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The UDF secured 102 seats in the 138-member assembly, marking a strong comeback and denying a third term to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which won 35 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 3 seats. The election results were declared on May 4, but as of May 10, 2026, the Chief Ministerial choice remained undecided, with the Congress leadership stating they had until May 23 to announce the decision, which is the expiry date of the current assembly's term. Three prominent leaders are in contention for the Chief Minister's post: V.D. Satheesan, the outgoing Leader of Opposition; K.C. Venugopal, a powerful AICC general secretary (organisation) and Lok Sabha MP who did not contest the assembly elections; and Ramesh Chennithala, a former LoP considered close to Sonia Gandhi. The Congress Legislature Party has passed a resolution authorizing the party high command to make the final decision. Senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have held multiple meetings with the contenders and AICC observers in Delhi to reach a consensus. Supporters of the various leaders have engaged in lobbying, with rallies, hoardings, and social media campaigns, prompting the party leadership to urge restraint. While Prime Minister Modi's criticism highlights the delay and internal party dynamics, Congress leaders like Ramesh Chennithala have defended their process. Chennithala retorted that it took the BJP-led central government 50 days to announce a Chief Minister in Delhi, suggesting the Prime Minister might have memory loss. Another Congress leader, Sandeep Varier, praised the party's "democratic process" of selecting a Chief Minister, contrasting it with the centralized decision-making of the BJP and CPI(M). K. Muraleedharan, a Congress leader, affirmed that party workers are bound to accept the high command's decision and that the party has an established procedure for selecting the CM after consulting MLAs and senior leaders. The constitutional deadline for forming a government, based on the existing assembly's term expiring on May 23, adds a layer of urgency to the situation. The delay has also sparked discussions about the Congress's internal decision-making processes and its ability to govern effectively, especially in light of past instances of leadership tussles in other states. Overall, the situation in Kerala reflects a complex interplay of electoral success, internal party politics, and political commentary from opposition leaders, all contributing to a tense but closely watched period for the state's governance.

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