Kerala CM | Kerala Chief Minister Or Nothing: Sources On VD Satheesan's Big Demand

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]With more details coming in on the Keralum Chief Minister suspense, sources now say that Satisan is adamant about securing the Chief Minister's post in the state of Kerala. Sources close to him state that should Satisen not be appointed as the Chief Minister of Kerala, he will not serve as a member of anyone else's cabinet. Meanwhile, the Congress high command faces this very dilemma. Number one whether to select the legislator's choice namely case Casey Wenu Gopal or the people's choice Satis remember Rahul Gandhi has also backed Casey Wenu Gopal as the chief minister face of Kerala it is neither easy to disregard the majority opinion within the legislative party nor to overlook the views of the allies let's go across to my colleague uh uh who's now Janendar who's now joining me live from Delhi Janendra While there are three top contenders for the Keralum Chief Minister phase, at this point of time it boils down to two top faces. Rah Gandhi backing Casey Wenuapal or Vidi Satisan who has a strong public support.

[00:01:07]How do you see the situation panning out and when will perhaps the Congress high command choose the chief minister of Kerala?

[00:01:16]>> Uh first of all Rahul Gandhi is not backing Casey Venu Gopal. Quesimir Gopal is very close to Rahul Gandhi but he is backed by most of the newly elected MLAs of Kerala of Congress in Keralam. That is why not only Rahul Gandhi but even Congress President Balajun Kh are trying to make a consensus for KC Venu Gopal as the next chief minister of Keralam and only because most of the MLAs are supporting him and not only MLAs most of the MPs and other senior leaders of Keralam wants Casey Venugopal as the next chief minister but as you informed our viewers that VT Satishan is very adamant on CM post and uh he have conveyed to the leadership that if he is not appointed chief minister then he will not be part of any other leader's cabinet and he want to serve party just as a MLA and as a party worker uh and that is why Congress leadership is trying to convince Vi Satishan to join Casey Venugopal's cabinet and even sources close to Congress leadership told me that Congress leadership wants Vidi Sati Satishan to be most important important minister in Venu Gopal's cabinet but because Satishan is not ready that is why Congress leadership is delaying the decision and that is why tomorrow to for further deliberations Rahul Gandhi have called meeting of ex Congress state presidents of Keralam and also working presidents of Keralam Pradesh Congress committee yes >> right you've clearly pointed how there that there is infighting within the congress regarding uh the new CM face of Keralam but the question right now being is that whether the Congress high command will be able to make a decision in the next 24 hours or so because it has been over a week since the Congress led UDF won the elections in Keralum but still no clarity on who will be the next chief minister of Keralum.

[00:03:14]Yes, certainly and sources are indicating that it may take uh at least one to two days because first of all, Congress President Malikun Kh is not in Delhi. He is in Bangalur and he is expected to return by uh Tuesday uh Tuesday evening or uh Wednesday morning.

[00:03:30]So after then so we are expecting decision after that only but sources are also indicating that the consultation is uh completed. Uh two rounds of consultation have already taken place.

[00:03:41]First of all observers went to Thirwan Puram and consulted with the newly elected MLAs. Then all three CM contenders were called to Delhi and Congress leadership KG and Rahul Gandhi talked with them extensively. So uh the most of the uh consultation is completed but for further deliberation uh and uh sources are saying that this is make a consensus for Venu Gopal tomorrow's meeting will take place and then by tomorrow evening or next day uh Congress may announce the next chief minister of Keralam but it may take at least one to two days more.

[00:04:12]>> Right. Right. We'll wait and have to see how things pan out there. Thanks very much for getting us the latest Jendra.

[00:04:23]All right, staying on with the Keralum Game of Thrones when it comes to the chief minister phase. Kerala's Congress unit has now turned into a fullblown political game of thrones with multiple power centers battling for the chief minister's chair. Rahul Gandhi aid KC Venu Gopal former leader of opposition in the state Vidi Satisan and then the third top contender senior leader Romesh Chennatali. Sources in the Chennatala camp claim that he is emerging as the consensus candidate arguing that he is the most senior leader among the three contenders. Meanwhile, sources close to Vidi Satisan say that the final call will rest with Sonia Gandhi stressing that the Congress high command especially Sonia Gandhi holds veto power in the decisionmaking procedure. Also as for sources, Rahul Gandhi is pushing for Casey Venu Gopal as the Congress chief minister in Keralum but faces internal resistance as senior leaders Vidi Satisan has strongly opposed the choice of uh uh of of that of Casey Venogal as the next chief minister of Keralum.

[00:05:36]Meanwhile, BJP leaders have slammed Congress for the delay in announcement of chief minister and alleged that Congress is in full confusion mode.

[00:05:45]Meanwhile, Congress has also hit back clarifying that there is no confusion on the chief minister face and it will be announced very soon.

[00:05:55]We have a democratic practice.

[00:05:58]Observers came here. They met all the MLAs individually and collectively.

[00:06:03]After that they have submitted the report. The read the leaders were called to Delhi.

[00:06:09]S Rahul Gandhi and Congressperson KGI spoke to all of us. Now decision is left to the Congress. I command Okay.

[00:07:03]It's an insult to the people of Kerala that even after one week the Congress is unable to decide on a leader who should uh lead the government under the Congress leadership.

[00:07:22]It's also show it also shows that the Congress leaders are more concerned about their personal benefit than the welfare of the people. That's why uh leaders are fighting among each each other not allow accepting not agreeing with any other name other than themselves. That type of uh agitations should be avoided. The clearcut direction given by Congress I command at any time it will decided by the Congress president as early as possible.

[00:07:57]>> BJP has been able to form its government in Bengal under the leadership of Suendra Adikari G. Now Himantabis Sarmma's name has already been declared elected in Assam. And on the other hand, Keralum where Congress party has full majority. It is yet not able to give one name for chief minister. This is called the Rahul Gandhi confusion model. I need confusion. INC model. Kerala situation is you know quite strange and ridiculous. Now even after one week of counting announcement of the results Congress party did not announce its chief minister who will lead Kerala government.

[00:08:46]One cannot say that it is the internal matter at this point of time. Of course it was the internal matter. They have every chance to decide who should lead the government.

[00:08:57]But it is a question of the chief minister of a state of Keralam. After one week, hundreds of discussions, jadaas, pus marches, group dancers, nothing is coming out.

[00:09:12]All right. I met Keralam chief minister suspense. Prime Minister Modi exuded confidence that Keralam too will have a BJP circar very soon.

[00:09:38]BJP NJ we're getting you some breaking news at this point of time amidst the deadlock between Casey Wayopal and Vidi Satis regarding the choice of Keralam's chief minister Rahul Ghan Gandhi has convened a meeting tomorrow with the state's former PCC presidents and the working presidents. This clearly implies that the announcement of Keralam's chief minister could take even longer and perhaps we may not know who will be Keralam's chief minister in the next 24 hours. Uh we have the XPCC presence and working presence called for tomorrow's meeting. XPCC President K Sudhakaran K Mudi Dharan Vimi Sudhiran Mm Hassan Mulapali Aram Chandran AK Anthony will be there. Meanwhile, the working presidents include Shafi Paramil, PC, Vishnad and Anil Kumar. This at a time when there's a tough deadlock between all the three top contenders as to who will be the next chief minister of Kerala. I have my colleague Avin joining me live for more on this. Asin Rahul Gandhi has called for this meeting tomorrow. So this clearly implies that the Congress infighting continues and perhaps we will not be able to know who will be Keralam's uh new chief minister in the next 24 hours. What are you hearing? Will the Congress high command perhaps be able to come out with a single name?

[00:11:04]>> Uh absolutely. I just want to bring in some of the fresh information that I've got of the three people who are contenting which is uh out of that two of them have already in Kerala. There is only one person who is the Keralum chief minister candidate that is Casey Venu Kopal. He is there in Delhi. Now a decision was earlier said as Romesh Chanitra very rightly pointed out in a bite that only decision has to be made.

[00:11:28]All the talks and discussions are over but no in the evening there is again more discussion at the time two of the candidates that is Romeshella and Vidi Satish both are in Kerala. So what is the discussion going on? Essentially one can clearly safely say that there is a pressure that has been put in by Casey Vin Gopal and that is where things are getting very tough for the high command.

[00:11:52]Now Casey Vin Gopal is bringing in a new set of people over there to speak for him. All the names that you have just mentioned barely one or two apart from that most of the people are part of the PE are part of the same camp of Casey Venual. So certainly there is a huge push that Casey Venugopal is doing to get into the seat. So you know I just want to tell you one of the important information whether it is Romesh Chinitla or Vidi Satishan. One thing they have clarified that if Casey Vinopal becomes the chief minister they will not be sitting in the cabinet rank.

[00:12:26]What that essentially means is a kind of a protest, a a statement that they have made that is going to put the Kerala Congress party in a very tough spot because the mandate of the people were extremely clear and therefore what is going to happen in the next 2 days is going to decide the fate of how Congress party is perceived by the people who gave them a resounding mandate. Now what was earlier said was the announcement will be done on Tuesday but now it is likely to be delayed probably on Wednesday or maybe even further to it and that is a big uh breaking information >> right especially have this meeting that Rahul Gandhi has called for us stay with us we'll come back to you in moments from now but let's tell our viewers more about the Keralam's chief minister suspense which is only deepening so here's what the congress sources have told NDTV that's the scoop mas are backing Casey Veno Gopal for the chief minister post. Apart from that, uh Vidi Satizen emerges as a public choice. He has a huge public mandate with him.

[00:13:26]Apart from that, Congress high command has summoned uh the Keralum leaders as well. Meanwhile, like our reporters told us, Casey Vinopal right now is in Delhi.

[00:13:35]Four top contenders for the chief minister race, but it all boils down to the top three. Apart from that, IUML views crucial in the chief minister's election in the state of Kerala. And apart from that, UDF allies are also batting for VD Satizen who remember is really adamant on securing the chief minister's seat in the state of Kerala.

[00:13:55]Uh Casey Venu Gopal pick may trigger two byp in this deadlock. Meanwhile, Rahul is yet to take a final call. Sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi is perhaps backing Casey Wayupal. But Sonia Gandhi will also be likely roped in for consultations regarding the next chief minister of Kerala. Meanwhile, Congress says that we are in no hurry to announce the chief minister phase before May 23rd. Let's now tell you about who gets the top job in Kerala. Number one, the Congress faces a straight choice between two very different power centers. On one hand we have Vidi Satizen UDF's statef facing strategist and he also has a huge public mandate with him. On the other hand we have Casey Venugopal National Congress power broker and he is also close aid of Rahul Gandhi. Apart from that Vid Satizen if you talk about him assembly MLAs grassroots workers alliance partners they all are supporting Vidi Satisan. On the other hand, Casey Venu Gopal when you talk about his support, central leadership circle and backing from larger MLA block. Apart from that, Satisan is also being seen as the main face of Congress's anti-LDF fight. Meanwhile, Casey Veno Gopal is being seen as a strong proximity to Rahul Gandhi.

[00:15:21]Remember, he's a close aid to Rahul Gandhi as well. That's Casey Venugo Gopal. Satien could perhaps deepen resentment in the Venu Gopal camp if he's elected as the chief minister face of Kerala. Meanwhile, if Casey Veno Gopal becomes the chief minister of Kerala, this could trigger criticism that Delhi overruled the state mandate.

[00:15:40]And like uh reporter told us a caseopal is as we speak in uh India's national capital New Delhi.