The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a remarkable victory in the May 2026 Kerala assembly elections, securing 102 seats. However, this success has been overshadowed by a week-long leadership deadlock involving key party figures VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala. The Congress party's tradition requires that newly elected MLAs pass a resolution allowing the 'high command' to choose their leader, which has led to delays as the leadership seeks to balance competing interests. This pattern is not unique to Kerala; similar deadlocks have occurred in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, often leading to instability. The UDF's coalition dynamics further complicate the leadership selection, as allies like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kerala Congress (Joseph) have significant influence. A deadline of May 23 has been set for finalizing the Chief Minister's name to mitigate public unrest, while the current caretaker CM, Pinarayi Vijayan, has criticized the internal chaos within the victorious party.