kerala cadre

Odisha police believe the last few Maoist fighters have left the state for Kerala. They are now seeking employment. The police have alerted their Kerala counterparts and railway authorities. Odisha was declared Naxal-free on March 31. Security forces continue operations to prevent any resurgence. The Maoist outfit has collapsed in Odisha. Efforts are underway to recover looted weapons.

The Kerala Congress leadership change has fueled speculation in Karnataka, with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar's supporters pushing for his elevation to the top post. While the party high command has publicly backed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar's camp sees the Kerala development as a hopeful precedent. The approaching three-year mark of the government's term intensifies the debate over leadership transition.

Congress leadership is nearing a decision to end Kerala's week-long Chief Minister deadlock after internal party discussions. Senior leaders, including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, are expected to finalize the successor to the Left Front's decade-long rule. The prolonged uncertainty has somewhat dulled the UDF's election victory, with three prominent figures vying for the top post.

After intense deliberations, VD Satheesan has been chosen as Kerala's new Chief Minister, overcoming strong contenders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala. Key factors included alliance support, grassroots sentiment, and Satheesan's vocal opposition to the incumbent government, making him the preferred choice for a stable UDF administration.

The party has bought itself time after recent electoral gains. Yet the road to 2029 will test whether Congress can reinvent itself — or remain a diminished player in national politics.

The CPM's significant defeat in Kerala stemmed from deep-seated decay within the party's structure. A sense of entitlement, inexperienced ministers, and a parasitic ecosystem of propagandists contributed to the downfall. Efforts at perception management failed, and a concentration of power in the secretariat eroded internal democracy, ultimately leading to the electoral rout.

Kerala's voters have ousted the CPM-led LDF, marking the first time since 1977 India has no Communist-governed state. The Congress-led UDF's victory, fueled by anti-incumbency, signals a significant challenge for the Left's national relevance and may impact the INDIA bloc's dynamics. Defeat was compounded by the win of CPM rebels.