After nine days of negotiations and lobbying, the Indian National Congress is set to announce its Chief Ministerial candidate for Kerala on Thursday. The decision comes after a meeting between Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. The contenders are V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala, with the contest primarily between Satheesan and Venugopal. Satheesan has garnered significant support from the United Democratic Front (UDF) allies, especially the Indian Union Muslim League, and is perceived to resonate with public sentiment. In contrast, Venugopal, who is not an MLA, has the backing of a majority of newly elected MLAs. The decision is complicated by the party's history of appointing CMs from outside the legislature, as seen in previous instances across various states. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is expected to convene to discuss this matter further before the announcement.