Election 2026 Live Updates: Congress yet to name Kerala CM, suspense continues

Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) delivered a robust performance in the state’s recent assembly elections, though the party remains divided over who will serve as the next chief minister. Three key candidates—K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala—have presented their cases to Congress high command in New Delhi, including discussions with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and veteran leader A K Antony. Venugopal’s camp is relying on internal support within the Congress legislature party, while Satheesan’s backers claim public backing and UDF ally support strengthen his position. Chennithala, the longest-serving among the three, is leveraging his political experience as a key asset. Rahul Gandhi reportedly acknowledged each candidate’s capability but stated the political environment is not yet conducive to an immediate decision. The Congress leadership has directed all involved to refrain from public statements or mobilization until a final announcement is made. Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph confirmed that Kharge and Gandhi will soon conclude discussions before naming the chief minister. Meanwhile, the Congress alleged that Instagram blocked Rahul Gandhi’s social media posts featuring actor-turned-politician Vijay, who recently became Tamil Nadu’s chief minister. Gandhi shared images and a reel with Vijay during his oath-taking ceremony, but the content was reportedly restricted due to rules from India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). Gandhi’s aide claimed the reel garnered 12 million views in under an hour, while a photo post reached 46 million people before being inaccessible. Government sources denied the claim, though no official reason was provided for the restriction.