India, May 14 -- The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday officially announced V.D. Satheesan as the Chief Minister-designate of Kerala following days of intense discussions within the party leadership after the Assembly election results.

The announcement was made during a press briefing at the AICC office by senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepa Dasmunshi. The decision came after a nearly 40-minute meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence in New Delhi.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, winning 102 out of 140 seats and defeating the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front...