India, May 14 -- After days of hectic backchannel negotiations, factional lobbying and intense power play within the Congress, the party finally picked VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala on Thursday.

The announcement, made in New Delhi by AICC Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, brought the curtain down on a bruising power struggle between Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.

From slogan-shouting workers on the streets of Wayanad to warning posters aimed at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rahul Gandhi's 40-minute meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge - the decision for Kerala's top post was not an easy one.

One of the biggest reasons behind Satheesan's elevation was the backing he receiv...