India, May 14 -- Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal on Thursday welcomed the party high command's decision to name VD Satheesan as Kerala's next chief minister, ending days of intense speculation over the leadership race within the Congress.

"The final decision has come, and the Congress high command decided VD Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Keralam Government. I am welcoming that decision wholeheartedly," Venugopal told reporters in Delhi shortly after the announcement.

Congratulating Satheesan, Venugopal said the people of Kerala had delivered a "big verdict" in favour of the UDF and expressed confidence that the new government would fulfil the aspirations of the people. "Certainly, we are totally behind the governm...