Congress Yet to Finalise Kerala Chief Minister as Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Government Wins Trust Vote

The Congress party is continuing discussions over its choice for the next Chief Minister of Kerala following the United Democratic Front’s victory in the Assembly elections, while political developments in neighbouring Tamil Nadu intensified after the newly formed government led by actor-politician Vijay secured a crucial trust vote in the Assembly.

In Kerala, suspense over the chief ministerial candidate has grown as the Congress high command held several rounds of consultations with senior party leaders in New Delhi. The race for the state’s top post is believed to be centred around senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala, all of whom are considered influential figures within the party.

According to party sources, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and other top officials met Kerala leaders to assess the political situation and build consensus before making a final announcement. The party leadership is reportedly attempting to avoid internal divisions while ensuring representation of various factions within the state unit.

Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief K Muraleedharan indicated that additional consultations could take place before the final decision is announced. He suggested that the opinion of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi would also play an important role in determining the leadership issue.

Reports suggest that K C Venugopal currently enjoys considerable support among newly elected Congress legislators, while V D Satheesan is viewed as a popular choice among grassroots workers and alliance partners. Ramesh Chennithala, a veteran leader and former Leader of Opposition in Kerala, also remains a strong contender because of his administrative experience and organisational influence.

The delay in announcing the next Chief Minister has triggered criticism from rival parties, with opposition leaders accusing the Congress of indecision despite winning a clear mandate. Political observers noted that the prolonged discussions reflected the complex factional balance within the Kerala Congress unit. Posters questioning the Congress leadership reportedly surfaced in parts of the state, adding to speculation over possible internal disagreements.

While Kerala awaited clarity on its next government, Tamil Nadu witnessed dramatic political developments as the government led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder Vijay successfully proved its majority on the floor of the Assembly. The trust vote marked the first major political test for the actor-turned-politician after his party emerged as a significant force in state politics.

Vijay’s government secured support from Congress, Left parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Indian Union Muslim League and a section of rebel legislators from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The backing from these parties enabled the government to comfortably cross the majority mark during the confidence motion.

The floor test witnessed heated exchanges and visible divisions within the AIADMK. A rebel faction led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam supported the Vijay-led administration despite opposition from the faction aligned with Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Political analysts described the split as one of the most serious internal conflicts within the AIADMK in recent years.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which moved into the opposition after the elections, staged protests during the Assembly proceedings and questioned the legitimacy of the coalition supporting Vijay. Opposition leaders argued that the alliance backing the government lacked ideological unity and accused rival parties of opportunistic politics.

Despite the criticism, the confidence motion was passed with 144 legislators voting in favour of the government. Following the victory, Vijay addressed the Assembly and promised to provide stable and transparent governance. He thanked supporting parties and lawmakers for standing with his administration during what he described as a crucial moment for Tamil Nadu politics.