Despite the UDF alliance securing a massive majority in Kerala, the delay in announcing the Chief Minister had sparked intense national debate.

The fierce competition among three prominent Kerala leaders had become a headache for the Congress high command.

Finally, after careful deliberation, veteran leader V.D. Satheesan has been given the opportunity to occupy the Chief Minister's chair. MP K.C. Venugopal, who wielded immense influence within high command circles, stepped aside. Satheesan secured the opportunity by overtaking another senior leader, Ramesh Chennithala.

Satheesan's Political Path

Born on May 31, 1964, to K. Damodara Menon and V. Vilasini Amma, Vadassery Damodaran Satheesan is a lawyer by profession. He has maintained his dominance as a continuous MLA from the Paravur assembly constituency since 2001. Belonging to Kerala's powerful Nair community, Satheesan led the UDF alliance in this election.

A Highly Educated Politician

Satheesan is an educated politician who earned a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, followed by an LLB from Kerala Law Academy Law College and an LLM from the Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. With 10 years of experience practicing as an advocate in the Kerala High Court, he also possesses excellent linguistic command.

Defeat in the First Election

Satheesan's political entry in the 1996 Kerala Assembly elections began with a defeat against Communist Party candidate P. Raju in the communist stronghold of Paravur. Undeterred, he won the 2001 election to become an MLA for the first time. Since then, he has consistently won in the constituency. In 2021, he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly.