Padmaja Venugopal

Sources said the party is likely to take a final call on the next Kerala CM within the next 24 hours, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expected in Delhi by evening to participate in the final discussions.

The Congress high command has called more Kerala leaders to Delhi as it weighs its chief ministerial choice after the UDF's election sweep. The delay, amid competing claims and ally unease, has intensified pressure to finalise government formation.

Kerala Govt Formation Live Updates: Days after the Kerala Assembly election results handed a decisive mandate to the Congress-led UDF, all eyes will be on today as the party is set to announce its chief ministerial face, following days of intense deliberations by the top leadership. Emerging as the X-factor in the race is powerful Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, the Lok Sabha MP from Alappuzha, who has entered the fray despite not contesting the Assembly elections. Also in active contention are senior state Congress leaders VD Satheesan, the outgoing Leader of Opposition, and Ramesh Chennithala, a former LoP considered close to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Stay tuned with Indiatoday.in for all live updates.

Kerala New CM Announcement Highlights: The Congress high command is likely to take a call today on who will become the next Chief Minister of Kerala, where the UDF, led by the grand old party, stormed to a sweeping victory with 99 seats in the recently held Assembly polls. Congress leaders VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala are being considered contenders for the top job in Kerala. Lobbying has intensified by the respective supporters of the three leaders. Satheesan and Chennithala arrived in Delhi on Friday amid the mounting anticipation over the key job. Follow IndiaToday.in for the latest updates on the Kerala CM suspense.

Rahul Gandhi is also said to be weighing whether KC Venugopal should be sent to Kerala as chief minister or continue in his current organisational role as Congress general secretary at the national level.

K Muraleedharan said the Congress high command may decide Kerala's next chief minister within 24 hours. The remark came as lobbying sharpened among the three leading contenders for the post.

V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala reached Delhi as Congress stepped up consultations on Kerala's next Chief Minister. The move has sharpened focus on the high command's decision after the UDF's Assembly election victory.