Congress to announce Kerala chief ministerial pick on Thursday

New Delhi | The Congress will announce its chief ministerial pick in Kerala on Thursday, the party said here after days of suspense, intense lobbying and marathon discussions.

After an almost 40-minute meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the decision on the next Kerala chief minister will be announced tomorrow.

The Congress-led UDF had won a two-thirds majority in the Kerala Assembly polls. The results were announced on May 4.

"As authorised by the members of the CLP in Kerala, the high command of the Congress has completed all discussions, and the decision on who the next chief minister of Kerala will be will be announced tomorrow," Ramesh said.

Asked whether the announcement would be made in Delhi or Kerala, he said, "Tomorrow the decision on the next chief minister of Kerala will be announced".

The party has been grappling with its chief ministerial pick and has held several rounds of discussions with local leaders and former party chiefs in the state.

AICC general secretary for organisation, K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan, and senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala are among those in the race for the post.