VD Satheesan creates history as Ernakulam’s first-ever Kerala Chief Minister

Kochi: A long-standing aspiration within the Congress party in Ernakulam has been realised after Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan was announced as the state’s new Chief Minister, triggering widespread celebrations across the district.

The development comes after Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas had publicly voiced what many party workers had privately hoped for — a chief minister from Ernakulam. Following the announcement, Shiyas had urged the Congress high command to take public sentiment into account while selecting the next leader, praising Satheesan’s ability to connect with voters and articulate the Opposition’s stance effectively in the Assembly.

“He could convince the public about what was happening in the state and put forward an alternative. People want a leader who brings together all sections of society and meets the public’s expectations. For us too, it is a dream to have a chief minister from Ernakulam,” Shiyas had said at the time, a remark that had already sparked political discussion.

A month later, the Congress leadership’s decision has made that aspiration a reality, with Ernakulam producing its first-ever Chief Minister. Satheesan, born in Nettoor and a six-time MLA from Paravur, has long been active in both organisational and legislative roles within the district.

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Celebrations broke out immediately at the Ernakulam DCC office following the announcement, with party workers gathering to mark what they described as a long-awaited moment. Slogans such as “Nilapaadukalude Rajakumara, Naalekalil Ningal Keralam Bharikkatte” echoed through the premises, while councillors at the Kochi Corporation office also joined the festivities under Mayor V K Minimol.

Congress MP Hibi Eden said the decision reflected the mood of the public, adding that Satheesan had long been seen as a leader capable of meeting expectations across sections of society.

“The public wanted him as Chief Minister and had been demanding it. The leadership recognised the mood on the ground and made the decision,” Eden said.

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In Nettoor, the announcement was met with emotional celebrations, with residents describing it as a long-awaited moment for the locality. Party workers and supporters, including those who had worked with Satheesan in student and youth political organisations, gathered with his family to watch the news unfold.