V D Satheesan Elected Kerala Chief Minister-Designate

In a significant political development, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) unanimously selected V D Satheesan as the leader and chief minister-designate of Kerala on Thursday. The appointment was confirmed during a CLP meeting, where the resolution was introduced by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph and received backing from senior figure Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

Interestingly, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala, who did not attend the meeting, expressed his support for Satheesan through a letter, demonstrating intra-party unanimity. The meeting followed an announcement by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) earlier in the afternoon, naming Satheesan for the top post.

Party leaders are expected to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to officially present letters from United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance partners, solidifying their backing for the new leadership. This marks a pivotal moment for the party's influence and direction in Kerala's political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)