The Congress has commenced the process of government formation in Keralam, where the party-led UDF registered a marked victory in the assembly polls, winning 102 seats in the 140-member assembly.

The Congress Legislative Party met in Thiruvananthapuram on May 7 to pass a resolution authorising its high command to choose the next Chief Minister of Kerala, even as Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP K.C. Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala were involved in hectic parleys to secure the support of MLAs. As it turns out, former KPCC president K Sudhakaran is backing K. C. Venugopal for the CM’s post, a man widely seen as the eyes and ears of Rahul Gandhi. On the other hand, VD Satheesan is seen as the top contender for the post of Chief Minister, if party cadres and workers' views are taken into account. It must be noted that the Satheesan camp has claimed that around 35 of the 63 party MLAs favour Satheesan. He took over as Leader of the Opposition after defeats in 2016 and 2021 and rebuilt the party's organisational and electoral base. Under him, the UDF won 18 of 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and performed well in the 2025 local body polls. He consistently targeted the LDF government and CM Pinarayi Vijayan on governance issues and took firm positions in internal matters. Seen as the face of the campaign, Satheesan has the backing of key allies like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Jacob) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party. In addition, the senior most leader in Kerala Congress, Ramesh Chennithala, is also a formidable contender. Chennithala is close to Sonia Gandhi.

WITH TVK FALLING SHORT OF MAJORITY, ALL EYES ON KINGMAKERS IN TAMIL NADU

Actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has geared up for the formation of the government in Tamil Nadu. Having emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, ten short of the half-way mark in the 234-member assembly. the TVK has sent formal letters to every political party in Tamil Nadu except the DMK, AIADMK and the BJP. However, the Congress, which has five MLA-elects, has decided to partner with the TVK to help form the government. This brings the total number of elected legislators in the coalition to 113. The grand old party's move to end its decades-long alliance with the DMK has caused divisions within the INDIA bloc. According to sources, the TVK had in turn promised two cabinet berths for the Congress in the new government and also a Rajya Sabha ticket to Rahul Gandhi's close aide Praveen Chakravarthy, who was the sole reason behind the TVK-Congress tie-up. Meanwhile, with Governor Rajendra Arlekar refusing to invite Vijay to form a government in Tamil Nadu as he is yet to cobble up a majority, entire focus now lies on the CPI(M), CPI and VCK — considered close to DMK — on whether they will officially support TVK so that the stalemate is broken. CPI(M), CPI and VCK are supporting each other and likely to extend support to actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

AKHILESH MEETS MAMATA AFTER TMC WASHOUT IN WEST BENGAL

In an expression of solidarity that underscores the tightening bonds within the INDIA bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav met TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee extending emotional support to Banerjee after the latter's massive defeat in West Bengal assembly elections. Akhilesh alleged that the BJP was trying to "snatch away the right to vote of ordinary people", especially those from the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities. He reiterated his demand that the CCTV footage of the counting centre of West Bengal should be disclosed and made public. If the supreme Court can have a live hearing, why is EC not making the CCTV footage inside the counting centres public? In addition, Mamata Banerjee has pledged to reinforce the INDIA bloc following the TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.

NITISH'S SON NISHANT SWORN IN AS MINISTER IN BIHAR'S EXPANDED CABINET

Nishant Kumar, the son of JD(U) president and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was sworn in as a minister during Bihar cabinet expansion at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, changing his father’s previous long-standing opposition to dynastic politics. The sons of three erstwhile Bihar CMs are Ministers in the new Cabinet. Apart from Nishant Kumar, Nitish Mishra, son of former CM Jagannath Mishra, and Santosh Kumar Suman, alias Santosh Manjhi, son of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, were also sworn-in. The induction of Nishant Kumar also marked a significant political moment for the Janata Dal (United), with fresh speculation over the party's next generation of leadership. Many within the JD(U) believe his inclusion in the state cabinet is a move towards his eventual succession, ensuring Nitish's legacy is carried forward. Under the NDA coalition, as many as 15 new Ministers from the BJP, excluding Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, 13 from JD-U, excluding two Deputy CMs from the party (Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Choudhary), two from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and one each from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, took the oath.