Kerala politics LIVE: All eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formation

Home Elections Kerala Differences over Kerala Chief Minister selection will be resolved smoothly, says K.C. Venugopal Updated - May 16, 2026 10:58 am IST Chief Minister designate V. D. Satheesan, Indian Union Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and other UDF constituent party leaders during the UDF leadership meeting held at Cantonment House in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. | Photo Credit: JAYAMOHAN A With V.D. Satheesan emerging as the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s chief ministerial face, the party unit in Ernakulam, his stronghold, appears to be set for a political reset. Mr. Satheesan’s elevation as the party’s Chief Minister-designate, after an intense internal turbulence, has triggered speculations over who all from the district could find a berth in his Cabinet.Also read | Highlights of Kerala politics on May 15, 2026United Democratic Front (UDF) convener Adoor Prakash said on Friday (May 15, 2026) that the UDF leadership meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram was only a “formal” gathering. The meeting did not arrive at any final decisions regarding ministerial berths. Key decisions regarding the new government, including Cabinet formation and portfolio allocation, would be finalised at another meeting scheduled for Saturday (May 16), he added.Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal said that differences among senior Congress leaders over the selection of the Kerala Chief Minister, including issues involving Ramesh Chennithala, would be resolved smoothly.Follow LIVE updates hereMay 16, 2026 10:58 Why IUML firmly backed V.D. Satheesan for Kerala Chief Minister Far from being merely a matter of electoral arithmetic or coalition pragmatism, the decision of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest constituent in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), to endorse V.D. Satheesan for Chief Minister reflected a potent mix of public sentiment, distinctive leadership style, and evolving social equations within Kerala’s political landscape.At one level, the IUML’s firm support for Mr. Satheesan, while overlooking relatively stronger contenders K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, was rooted in political continuity. Since taking over as the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Satheesan had led the UDF through one of its most difficult phases following repeated electoral setbacks.Read the story hereWhy IUML firmly backed V.D. Satheesan for Kerala Chief MinisterThe IUML's endorsement of V.D. Satheesan for Kerala Chief Minister reflects strong public sentiment and strategic political calculations.May 16, 2026 10:24 KPSTA urges Cong to retain education portfolio in Kerala cabinet Office bearers of the Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA) on Saturday (May 16) met Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan and requested that the education portfolio be retained by the Congress party in the new government.KPSTA, a teachers’ body associated with the Congress, said it has faced issues in the past when the Education Ministry was allocated to alliance parties despite the Congress leading the government.In the previous UDF government headed by former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the education portfolio was held by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).KPSTA state associate general secretary T.U. Sadath told reporters that the association leaders conveyed their demand during the meeting with Mr. Satheesan.-PTIMay 16, 2026 09:48 IUML expects five cabinet berths, has not made any claim in UDF: Thangal IUML state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal has said that although the party has not staked any formal claim for cabinet positions in the state government, it expects to get five berths.Mr. Thangal was speaking to reporters late on Friday (May 15) night before boarding a train to Thiruvananthapuram, where UDF allies are meeting to finalise the cabinet.In the 2011-2016 Oommen Chandy government, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had five ministers.“We did not stake any claims. The discussions are going on. We expect that in the final decision, all aspects will be taken into account,” he said.-PTIMay 16, 2026 09:36 Differences over Kerala Chief Minister selection will be resolved smoothly, says K.C. Venugopal All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Friday said that differences among senior Congress leaders over the selection of the Kerala Chief Minister, including issues involving Ramesh Chennithala, would be resolved smoothly.When asked whether Mr. Chennithala would be part of the Cabinet, Mr. Venugopal said the matter would be discussed by the party leadership.“There is a good team in the State which will make a decision on this,” he said.Read the story hereDifferences over Kerala Chief Minister selection will be resolved smoothly, says K.C. VenugopalK.C. Venugopal assures smooth resolution of Congress leadership differences in Kerala, emphasizing unity and support for the new Chief Minister.May 16, 2026 09:35 All eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formation With V.D. Satheesan emerging as the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s chief ministerial face, the party unit in Ernakulam, his stronghold, appears to be set for a political reset.Mr. Satheesan’s elevation as the party’s Chief Minister-designate, after an intense internal turbulence, has triggered speculations over who all from the district could find a berth in his Cabinet.Notably, the Congress did not have a Minister from Ernakulam in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government. The Indian Union Muslim League’s V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress(J) were the two ministers from the district then. This time, the Congress may go for one more Minister from the district, besides the Chief Minister. With the UDF poised to discuss Cabinet formation on Saturday, Congress insiders suggest Aluva MLA Anvar Sadath, T.J. Vinod (Ernakulam), Roji M. John (Angamaly), and Mathew Kuzhalnadan (Muvattupuzha) are among the ministerial probables from the district.Read the story hereAll eyes on Congress equations in Satheesan’s home turf ahead of Cabinet formationSpeculation rises on Cabinet formation in Ernakulam as V.D. Satheesan leads Congress after internal shifts and community considerations. Published - May 16, 2026 09:33 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products