In Rahul Gandhi’s Congratulatory Post For Satheesan, A Mention For Venugopal: 'Led Campaign...'

In Rahul Gandhi’s Congratulatory Post For Satheesan, A Mention For Venugopal: 'Led Campaign...' Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 20:15 IST Venugopal was widely seen as one of the frontrunners for the top post and reportedly enjoyed the backing of a majority of Congress MLAs. Rapid Read Rahul Gandhi had flown to Thiruvananthapuram to attend Satheesan’s swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Stadium. Along with Satheesan, 20 ministers were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. (Photo: X/Rahul Gandhi) Rahul Gandhi on Monday congratulated V. D. Satheesan after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala, but it was his special mention of senior Congress leader K. C. Venugopal in the post that drew political attention. Posting on X, Rahul Gandhi thanked Venugopal for leading the Congress campaign in Kerala “from the frontlines", a remark that came after discussions around the intense race for the chief minister’s post following the UDF’s landslide victory in the Assembly elections. Venugopal was widely seen as one of the frontrunners for the top post and reportedly enjoyed the backing of a majority of Congress MLAs. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala was also among the leading contenders before the party high command eventually picked Satheesan, who had emerged as a popular choice within the organisation. Rahul Gandhi’s post included a collage featuring Satheesan, Venugopal and Chennithala. While Chennithala was not directly mentioned in the message, his inclusion in the collage was seen as politically significant. Chennithala has accepted a cabinet berth in the new government after missing out on the chief minister’s post. “The people of Keralam fought for this government. Their voice will guide it. Warm congratulations to V.D. Satheesan ji and the entire cabinet, who will now represent the voice of every Keralite," Rahul Gandhi wrote on X. “Thanks to K.C. Venugopal ji, who led this campaign from the frontlines. This victory belongs to every UDF worker and digital warrior who sacrificed tirelessly during this campaign. The work begins now," Rahul Gandhi said. The people of Keralam fought for this government. Their voice will guide it.Warm congratulations to V.D. Satheesan ji and the entire cabinet, who will now represent the voice of every Keralite. Thanks to K.C. Venugopal ji, who led this campaign from the frontlines. This… pic.twitter.com/Rbty1zftU8 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 18, 2026 Venugopal responded by describing the return of a UDF government in Kerala as his long-standing mission. He thanked Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership for giving him the opportunity to contribute to the campaign and wished Satheesan success in office. As a dedicated soldier of the Congress, bringing a UDF government in my home state Keralam has always been my mission! I am grateful to INC President Mallikarjun @kharge ji, Rahul ji, and the entire Congress party for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this historic… K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) May 18, 2026 Rahul Gandhi had flown to Thiruvananthapuram to attend Satheesan’s swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Stadium. Along with Satheesan, 20 ministers were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The new Cabinet features a mix of senior leaders and fresh faces, with 14 ministers taking office for the first time. The ceremony witnessed the presence of top Congress leaders, alliance partners and senior UDF figures, reflecting the coalition’s broad-based electoral success. The UDF returned to power with a massive mandate, winning 102 of the 140 Assembly seats. Loud cheers erupted from party workers and supporters as senior leaders including Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, A. P. Anil Kumar and Sunny Joseph took oath as ministers. Leaders from alliance partners, including P. K. Kunhalikutty, Shibu Baby John, Mons Joseph, Anoop Jacob and C. P. John, were also sworn in. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Thiruvananthapuram, India, India First Published: May 18, 2026, 20:15 IST News india In Rahul Gandhi’s Congratulatory Post For Satheesan, A Mention For Venugopal: 'Led Campaign...' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...