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New Delhi: The impasse over the face of the Kerala Chief Minister continues, as latest reports indicate that the Congress has yet again postponed the much-awaited announcement of its CM pick to Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph had maintained that the announcement regarding the top post in the state could be expected later in the day as soon as discussions within the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are over. Joseph also said that the party leaders and workers were waiting for the final decision from the Congress high command. 

"We expect the Chief Minister's name to be announced today. It is understood that all discussions have been completed. We are waiting for the announcement today. Sonia Gandhi was in the hospital, so there could be a slight delay because of that. The Chief Minister's name will be announced from Delhi," Joseph told reporters.

However, the grand old party could not come up with its choice, and further delayed the announcement.

What May Have Led To The Delay

The suspense over the Chief Ministerial face in Kerala, days after the Congress-led UDF secured a decisive mandate in the Kerala 2026 Assembly elections, comtinues to linger on, making party workers impatient. On Wednesday, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi underwent a routine medical check-up at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram which may have led to the delay. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh later shared that she had returned home after the check-up.

Split Into Three Camps

The Congress high command has been holding consultations in New Delhi with senior Kerala leaders on Friday to finalise the name for the Chief Ministerial post, as the state seemed to be divided into three camps - Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had earlier huddled with these three former state chiefs in Delhi on Tuesday, who have now emerged as frontrunners contending for the top post.

On Wednesday again, Rahul Gandhi held a 40-minute-long meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the party's Chief Ministerial choice for Kerala.

Meanwhile, posters started surfacing outside the District Congress Committee office in Wayanad, against Venugopal, who has reportedly emerged as the top pick of Rahul Gandhi, and has arguably entered the race for the top post at the last moment.

The discussions at the top level come in the backdrop of efforts to balance internal factions in Kerala as well as alliance sensitivities before coming out with a formal announcement from Delhi.

Venugopal vs Chennithala vs Satheesan 

Venugopal is seen to be much ahead in the race thanks to Rahul Gandhi's apparent backing. However, the local leaders in Kerala, seem to be more inclined to back Chennithala and Satheesan, especially since the duo were instrumental in crafting the UDF's victory in the Assembly elections. However, many MLAs have still proposed Venugopal’s name considering his closeness to the Gandhis.

While Venugopal received support from a majority of the 63 MLAs, UDF ally IUML’s (Indian Union Muslim League) has backed Satheesan, since the latter holds the post of Leader of the Congress Legislature Party and enjoys wider support among the masses in Keralam.

UDF Win In Kerala Assembly Polls

The UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly in the recently concluded assembly elections, ending the decade-long rule of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in the state. The Congress won 28.79 per cent votes, while its most visible ally, the IUML won 11 per cent.