After almost fifteen years, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram saw lively scenes as Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan arrived to a warm welcome from excited party workers and leaders. The last time such excitement filled the state Congress headquarters was in 2011 when Oommen Chandy led the UDF to a close electoral win, bringing the Congress back to power. This time, the political atmosphere was notably different.
In contrast to Chandy’s narrow victory with just two seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, Satheesan entered the party headquarters with a resounding mandate of 102 seats, marking one of the Congress-led UDF’s largest victories in the state. The exuberance outside the party office seemed to mirror the scale of this triumph.
Hours before Satheesan’s arrival, a large crowd of Congress workers, youth activists, and supporters gathered outside the headquarters, waving flags, chanting slogans, and setting off fireworks. The road leading to the office was packed with eager party workers hoping to catch a glimpse of the future 13th Chief Minister of Kerala.
As Satheesan’s vehicle finally pulled in around 2:30 p.m., the crowd erupted in joy. Amid the cheers and excitement, workers surrounded the Chief Minister-designate, making it challenging for him to exit the car. They carried him towards the building’s entrance, chanting “V.D., V.D.” enthusiastically.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was equally charged. Satheesan entered the crowded office chamber of state unit President Sunny Joseph, who is anticipated to be part of the new cabinet. The traditional sharing of sweets among leaders commenced, accompanied by applause, camera flashes, and celebratory slogans. For the Congress members, this event signified not just the arrival of a new Chief Minister but also an emotional resurgence of the party after years in the political wilderness.
