VD Satheesan has been appointed as the Chief Minister of Kerala, a decision that emerged after significant internal deliberations within the Congress party. Initially, KC Venugopal was the preferred candidate of Rahul Gandhi and many MLAs, but feedback from various Kerala leaders led to a change in plans. Rahul Gandhi's intention is to retain Venugopal in Delhi as the General Secretary (Organisation), which could position him for a future role as Congress president. The decision to appoint Satheesan aims to avoid the complications of simultaneous by-elections, as Venugopal's appointment would have necessitated both an Assembly and a Lok Sabha by-election. The Congress party's reliance on the Muslim League's support in the Wayanad constituency, represented by Priyanka Gandhi, further influenced this choice. This strategic move is also seen as a way to bolster the party's standing in southern states ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.