Oommen Chandy to be next Kerala Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (ANI): Congress veteran Oommen Chandy is all set to become the next chief minister of Kerala and lead the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government.

The decision came following a meeting of senior party leaders at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters here, which unanimously decided that Chandy should lead the government in the state.

"There is no contest to the post of the Congress parliamentary party leader. I would not join the ministry, but would continue at the party leadership," KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters.

According to reports, Chandy, elected for the 10th consecutive time from Puthupally in Kottayam District, will assume office as the 21st chief minister of Kerala later this week.

Chandy, who had replaced AK Antony as chief minister in August 2004 after the Congress put up a dismal performance in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, will take the oath along with leaders of some of the allies.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) stalwart V.S. Achuthanandan resigned as Kerala Chief Minister on Saturday, a day after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by him lost the Assembly polls by a slender margin.

In Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF) won by 72 seats, while the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) bagged 68 seats. (ANI)