The selection of the next Chief Minister of Kerala has become a complex issue following the United Democratic Front's (UDF) significant victory in the April 9 Assembly elections. K C Venugopal, the AICC general secretary, has garnered support from 43 out of 63 newly elected Congress MLAs during discussions led by AICC observers in Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally with 22 MLAs, is advocating for V D Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, to take the top post. IUML leaders argue that appointing a sitting MLA would eliminate the need for a bypoll. Satheesan, viewed as a prominent figure in the UDF campaign, has expressed his unwillingness to accept any role other than Chief Minister, which some see as a strategic move. The Congress Legislature Party has passed a resolution empowering party president Mallikarjun Kharge to make the final decision regarding the leadership. The observers have been meeting with MLAs and UDF allies to gather insights, emphasizing the importance of public sentiment alongside MLA support. The UDF's recent electoral success, winning 102 of 140 seats, has heightened the stakes in this leadership battle, which has also sparked public demonstrations and social media campaigns from supporters of both candidates.