Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Thursday met Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan and handed over letters of support from United Democratic Front (UDF) allies to formally stake a claim to form the government in Kerala.

Satheesan was accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC in-charge for Kerala Deepa Dasmunsi, shortly after he was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

According to party sources, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on May 18.

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The decision to appoint Satheesan as CLP leader was announced earlier in the day in New Delhi by Deepa Dasmunsi, along with Congress central observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, and AICC communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh.

“Based on all the discussions, it has been decided that V D Satheesan be appointed as the leader of the CLP,” Dasmunsi told reporters.

Hours later, the CLP formally ratified the decision at a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram attended by Dasmunsi and the AICC observers.

After meeting the Governor, an emotional Satheesan thanked the Congress leadership and the people of Kerala for entrusting him with what he described as a “huge responsibility”.

“The people of Kerala have given us a big responsibility. They ended a 10-year-long Left rule and gave us (UDF) power by helping us win 102 of the 140 Assembly seats. So, what we promised to the public, we will fulfil one by one,” Satheesan said.

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“We will all work hard with dedication to improve the living standards of the people, change Kerala, create a new Kerala and usher in a puthu yugam (new era),” he asserted.

“We will rewrite the definition of political and public work,” he added.

Satheesan also thanked Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala for their support.

Speaking about Venugopal’s role, Satheesan said, “Each day he would ask about our activities and support all of them.”

He also described Chennithala as “my leader also” and credited him for leading the party’s election campaign as campaign committee chairman.

While Venugopal publicly accepted the party’s decision and pledged full support to the new government, Chennithala skipped the CLP meeting after expressing displeasure over the leadership choice. However, he sent a letter extending support to Satheesan.

“So, that is my stand now. I humbly accept the party high command decision and will work to implement it. I am a loyal Congressman. For me the party is everything. I don't want an image at the cost of the party. I want to die shrouded in the party flag; will give all support to the government in Kerala,” Venugopal told reporters in New Delhi.

Party sources said Satheesan and central Congress leaders have reached out to Chennithala in an effort to pacify him amid speculation over whether he will join the new cabinet.

Later in the day, Satheesan also visited veteran Congress leader AK Antony at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram, where Antony advised him to proceed cautiously while leading the new government.

Recalling his own tenure as chief minister, Antony said, “At that time, I also received a grand welcome. But after a few months, that mood changed, and the media turned against me due to some strong decisions taken to resolve certain issues.”

He cautioned Satheesan against rushing into announcements and urged patience in governance.

Meanwhile, Congress allies, including the Indian Union Muslim League welcomed Satheesan’s elevation, while the Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the Congress, alleging that the decision reflected pressure from alliance partners rather than the choice of party MLAs.