Thiruvananthapuram: As Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan met Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked a claim to form the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, BJP state president and Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that the state’s next chief minister was chosen under pressure from the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

“Today after 11 days of haggling, Cong led UDF announces its Chief Minister in Keralam,” the BJP state president and Nemom MLA wrote in a post on X.

“It is every party's prerogative to choose its CM nominee. But what is shocking and worrying is that it was the Jamaat Islami+Muslim League that decided the Keralam CM,” he alleged.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar further claimed that the Congress had compromised on secular values by aligning with “radical” organisations.

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“Ever since the Cong openly entered into a political alliance with the anti-Democracy, anti-constitution Jamaat Islami, I have cautioned about the dangers of allowing these anti-secular, dangerous forces access to mainstream politics and governance,” he wrote.

“This is a serious danger to Keralam and India. Makes every Malayalee feel unsafe and vulnerable #ApakadamPolitics,” he added.

The BJP leader also questioned the future handling of law and order, education and investment in the state under the incoming government.

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“There are many questions that arise and cause worry - what will the police and law/order do with cases of violence, terror, and radicalisation of youth? Will Jamaat+IUML decide the education and future of our youth? Will investors come to Keralam with Jamaat+IUML controlling govt?” he asked.

“And this is the same shameless Cong that waves and talks of the constitution of India on one hand and other hand politics with radical, non-secular Muslim organisations,” he said.

The remarks came shortly after Satheesan, accompanied by senior Congress leaders including Sunny Joseph and Deepa Dasmunsi, met the Governor at Lok Bhavan and submitted letters of support from UDF allies to formally stake a claim to form the government.

Satheesan was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party earlier in the day, following days of intense discussions within the Congress leadership after the UDF’s sweeping victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.