Kerala CM announcement highlights: Cong Kerala chief says decision for CM post taken, 'white smoke' expected soon

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Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: The opposition LDF on Tuesday hit out at the Congress-led UDF over the delay in selecting Kerala's new chief minister, alleging that the coalition was "failing" to honour the mandate given by the people.

Addressing a press conference here, senior CPI(M) leader and Left Democratic Front convenor T P Ramakrishnan said, "The Congress and the UDF should be prepared to respect the people's verdict."

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: It was KC Venugopal who formally announced it in June 2024 that Rahul Gandhi was chosen to be the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Now it is up to Rahul to decide if Venugopal, widely considered among his closest aides, heads home to Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala's next chief minister.

In Parliament, Venugopal sits to Rahul Gandhi's immediate left on the Opposition benches. That proximity has translated into a consistent pattern of formal interventions on Gandhi's behalf across recent sessions.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: The Congress leaders from Kerala appear to be divided on whether coalition partners should have a say in the CM selection as the party high command continued to hold talks with senior leaders in the southern state,news agency PTI reported.

Leaders who have been called to Delhi by the central leadership include former KPCC presidents V M Sudheeran, Mullappally Ramachandran, K Muraleedharan, K Sudhakaran and M M Hassan.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: The opposition LDF on Tuesday hit out at the Congress-led UDF over the delay in selecting Kerala's new chief minister, alleging that the coalition was "failing" to honour the mandate given by the people.

Addressing a press conference here, senior CPI(M) leader and Left Democratic Front convenor T P Ramakrishnan said, "The Congress and the UDF should be prepared to respect the people's verdict."

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday shut down questions from the BJP about the delay in naming Kerala's Chief Minister, as the deadlock continues following the United Democratic Front's sweeping victory in the assembly elections over a week ago, calling the alliance's "internal matter."

Speaking with ANI, he slammed the BJP for raising questions on the matter, pointing out that the party took "a month to make a CM in Karnataka."

"Why is the BJP so interested in it? They took more than a month to make a CM in Karnataka. It is our internal matter," Kharge said.

It was KC Venugopal who formally announced in June 2024 that Rahul Gandhi had been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

After the Congress secured 99 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections — its best result in a decade, and enough to cross the 10% threshold required to claim the post of Leader of Opposition — that was Venugopal's duty as the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation).

Now it is up to Rahul to decide if Venugopal, widely considered among his closest aides, heads home to Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala's next chief minister. Read the full story here.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday, challenging a Madras High Court interim order restraining its MLA Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in the Assembly confidence vote.

The plea was mentioned by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi at 2:45 PM today before a bench led by Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant. The plea, which has been filed through Advocates Dixita Gohil, Pranjal Agarwal, Rupali Samuel and Yash S Vijay, will be heard tomorrow, May 13.

The Madras High Court had earlier restrained Sethupathi after former DMK minister Periyakaruppan filed a petition on the election results, alleging irregularities in postal ballot handling during the Tirupattur constituency election, which Sethupathi reportedly won by a single vote.

The order came while hearing a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister KR Periyakaruppan, who sought to restrain Sethupathi from assuming office as an MLA over allegations that a postal ballot vote had been altered.

Congress leaders from Kerala appear divided on whether coalition partners should have a say in the CM selection, as the party high command continues to hold talks with senior leaders in the southern state.

Leaders who have been called to Delhi by the central leadership include former KPCC presidents V. M. Sudheeran, Mullappally Ramachandran, K. Muraleedharan, K. Sudhakaran, and M. M. Hassan.

The party has also asked senior MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and working presidents P C Vishnunath, Shafi Parambil and A P Anil Kumar to come to Delhi.

TN CM Joseph Vijay visited AIADMK MLA C Ve Shanmugam's residence in Chennai.

General Secretary of Kerala BJP, S Suresh, on Tuesday slammed the United Democratic Front in the State for failing to announce a name for the Chief Ministerial position while lashing out at the Left Democratic Front for not declaring a Leader of Opposition.

Suresh alleged that, despite nine days having passed since the declaration of Assembly poll results that portrayed a sweeping win for the Congress-led UDF, the Congress high command has not announced a CM face, indicating a split within the party.

The BJP leader said, "It has been nine days since the election results came out. Kerala has been without a Chief Minister and a Leader of the Opposition for nine days. All I can say is, enlightened Keralam should be ashamed. The Congress high command still can't make a decision. On the streets, supporters are splitting into groups for leaders, leading to clashes and slogan shouting. What's coming next is corruption and violence. The LDF and the UDF are no different."

Congress MLA-elect from Alappuzha A D Thomas on Tuesday said strong action would be taken over the alleged assault on party workers, including himself, by gunmen of then CM Pinarayi Vijayan during the 2023 Nava Kerala Sadas, after the UDF government assumes charge.

Thomas told reporters that as soon as the UDF chief minister takes oath, a complaint will be lodged seeking a reinvestigation and appropriate action in the matter.

He said that a reinvestigation of the matter was necessary, as police had refused to entertain an initial complaint, and it was only after the court intervened that further steps were taken.

However, after conducting an investigation, the police submitted a report to the court stating that no such incident occurred, he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay visited the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) office in Chennai to meet the party's leadership.

VCK President Thol. Thirumavalavan has clarified the reports on talks of him becoming the Tamil Nadu CM.

"Today, some journalists met me. At that time, they asked various questions. At that moment, one journalist asked, "They say that the Congress party has thwarted the efforts to make you the Chief Minister." To that, I replied, 'I too received information that such an effort had taken place,' the VCK President said.

“I only said that some of my close friends approached me and spoke about it. 'Neither DMK nor AIADMK has officially approached me in that manner. Nor have I spoken to anyone about it,” he added.

AIADMK leader Agri S. S. Krishnamurthy says, "AIADMK has directed all its MLAs to vote against TVK in the Tamil Nadu assembly Floor Test tomorrow. Action will be taken against those MLAs who act against the party's directive ."

Lone AMMK MLA has been 'removed' from party for unilateral support to TVK, party founder TTV Dhinakaran announced.

LDF Convenor TP Ramakrishnan has shed the light on deputy leader of opposition post in Kerala.
"Congress has still not decided who the Chief Minister will be. The party has a responsibility to do justice to the people, but it is not fulfilling that responsibility. There is no dispute within the LDF over deciding the Leader of the Opposition. The CPI(M) will take a decision and announce it. First, let a decision be made on the Chief Minister. As for the CPI demanding the Deputy Leader of the Opposition post, that question should be asked to the CPI itself. I am not aware of the CPI having such a demand. The LDF has not discussed that matter. The CPI(M) has to take the decision. I do not know whether the CPI has taken a stand against Pinarayi Vijayan," he said.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: After the recently held assembly polls, the Congress has 63 MLAs in the 140-member Kerala assembly. Its allies Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has 22, Kerala Congress (KEC) has eight and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) three.

Tamil Nadu govt news LIVE: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay is set to face floor test in the state assembly tomorrow, May 13, where he will have to prove his majority in the floor of the house with a trust vote.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: In a reference to how selection of a new Pope is announced to the world with a white smoke from a chimney in Vatican, Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph said that ‘white smoke can be expected soon’.

"It is expected at the earliest. The high command can take an appropriate decision after necessary consultations," he said.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi met five former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs, UDF convenor, KPCC disciplinary committee chief and three KPCC working presidents.

Out of them, seven leaders supported KC Venugopal. Two leaders including K Muralidharan and VM Sudheeran supported Satheesan and one leader remained neutral.

During the meeting,Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the road shows by warring factions in Kerala.

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: BJP 's Tamil Nadu vice president, P Kanagasabapathi says, while talking about rift in AIADMK, said, "The problem in AIADMK is their internal party affair... As far as the alliance is concerned, it was decided by the top leadership at the all-India level by our party and by the Tamil Nadu leadership earlier in April last year... It is very unfortunate because the party that was promoted by NGR as an alternative to DMK, and the party that was nourished by Jayalalithaa so that it could remain as the Dravidian party that remained in power for a longer period of time than the DMK, is facing such difficulties...."

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: arnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday shut questions from BJP around the delay in the naming of Keralam Chief Minister as the deadlock continues following the United Democratic Front's sweeping victory in the assembly elections, over a week ago, calling the alliance's "internal matter."

Speaking with ANI, he slammed the BJP for raising questions on the matter, pointing that the party took "a month to make a CM in Karnataka."

"Why is BJP so interested in it? They took more than a month to make a CM in Karnataka. It is our internal matter," Kharge said. (ANI)

Kerala CM announcement news LIVE updates: Congress leader K. Muraleedharan said that final decision on who would be Kerala CM will come by this evening or tomorrow morning.

Tamil Nadu govt news LIVE: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to visit TN Congress headquarters in Chennai on Tuesday.