India, May 14 -- The Congress on Thursday announced VD Satheesan as its Kerala chief minister pick after days of discussions for the top post for which senior leaders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala were also in the running.

Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepa Dasmunshi announced the selection of VD Satheesan as the leader of Kerala legislature party (CLP)on Thursday, paving the way for his oath-taking as state chief minister.

The decision marks a rare instance where the Congress high command was unable to install its preferred choice as chief minister, despite initial reports suggesting that an overwhelming majority of MLAs backed Venugopal for the post.

A senior Congress leader told HT that while Venugopal was the...