Congress high command convened to finalize Kerala’s chief minister after the United Democratic Front secured an assembly election victory, ending a decade out of power. The selection must balance senior leaders V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K C Venugopal while accommodating the Indian Union Muslim League and bridging internal factions.

Karnataka remains a cautionary backdrop, with sustained friction between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar since the 2023 win. Repeated high-command interventions have yielded temporary calm, but cabinet expansions and policy decisions continue to reflect proxy contests that distract from welfare and investment priorities.

Prolonged leadership uncertainty in Karnataka has complicated fiscal and industrial decision-making as the Bharatiya Janata Party seeks to regain ground. Voters and allies have noted that public disputes over authority risk weakening the Congress’s ability to convert electoral mandates into governance outcomes.

The Kerala decision is expected within days, with emphasis on broad acceptability and administrative readiness. In Karnataka, party leadership is weighing measures to clarify roles and curb public posturing to stabilize governance before the next electoral cycle.