Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Information and Technology Department head Amit Malviya on Saturday (May 23, 2026) targeted Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over the appointment of Secretary to the new Chief Minister of Kerala VD Satheesan. He said that Rahul Gandhi’s selective outrage has once again been exposed.

He criticized an In this regard, Amit Malviya has shared a post on the social media platform

Rahul Gandhi’s selective outrage stands exposed yet again.

He chose to criticize West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for appointing Shri Manoj Agarwal as Chief Secretary. But unlike Mamata Banerjee, who repeatedly subverted the bureaucracy by superseding dozens of IAS… pic.twitter.com/Hpf7DTvU4b

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 23, 2026

What did Amit Malviya say in the X post?

BJP’s National Information and Technology Department head Amit Malviya wrote in his post, ‘Rahul Gandhi’s selective anger has once again been exposed. He criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari’s appointment of Manoj Agarwal as Chief Secretary, but unlike Mamata Banerjee, who repeatedly ignored dozens of IAS officers and weakened the bureaucratic system by promoting only her loyal officers, the BJP government of West Bengal has appointed the senior-most IAS officer serving in the state and this appointment has been done as per established rules and service traditions.

He further wrote, ‘Now compare this with Congress-ruled Kerala. Ratan U. Kelkar, who is a 2003 batch IAS officer of Keralam cadre and is not even the senior most officer in the state, is being appointed as Secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan, while he will simultaneously hold the post of Chief Electoral Officer of Keralam. A position in which institutional impartiality and independence are most expected, then where is Rahul Gandhi’s lesson on institutional decorum? Or does their anger depend entirely on which party is in power?

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The name of VD Satheesan has been announced by the Congress high command as the next Chief Minister of Kerala. He has also staked claim to form the government by meeting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday (May 14, 2026) at 7:30 pm. The Congress high command had approved Satheeshan’s name after much consideration and feedback.

According to sources, the important thing is that the future Chief Minister of Kerala VD Satheesan can take oath at 10 am on Monday (May 18, 2026). After meeting the Governor, Satheesan also held a meeting with the alliance MLAs.

for the new cabinet udf start discussion within

10 days after the results of Keralam Assembly Elections 2026 were revealed on May 4, the national leadership of Congress has put an end to the ongoing speculation by confirming the name of VD Satheesan as the new Chief Minister. At the same time, now a serious discussion has started within the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) regarding the composition of the new cabinet of the Kerala government.

Also read: Shashi Tharoor’s first reaction on VD Satheesan’s election as CM, said- This is not the victory of an individual…

How many ministers will take oath along with the Chief Minister??

According to sources, all 20 ministers can take oath together along with Chief Minister VD Satheesan. However, all efforts are being made to ensure this. This is being done so that all possibilities of expansion of the cabinet in a phased manner are eliminated.

Actually, it has been an old tradition in Kerala that the leaders of the coalition partners take oath along with the Chief Minister during the swearing-in ceremony. However, after the delay in the selection of the candidate for the post of Chief Minister of the state, the Congress leadership is now trying to avoid any apprehension. Meanwhile, the UDF alliance wants to give a clear message that all speculations are now over. The alliance is completely united and ready to form the government.

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In the elections for the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the Congress-led alliance United Democratic Front (UDF) won a landslide victory on 102 seats, but even after the election results are out on May 4, 2026, the alliance has not yet announced the name of the next Chief Minister of the state. There is a vigorous discussion going on within the Congress Party regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister of Kerala.

Congress observers submitted report to the party president

Two AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken, appointed by the Congress party, have submitted their report on Friday (May 8, 2026) to the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the selection of the next Chief Minister of Kerala. In this report, complete information has been given about the opinion of Congress MLAs regarding the post of CM and their favorite leader.

Which leaders are ahead in the race for CM post?

According to the report, the names of three big leaders are at the forefront in the race for the post of Chief Minister of Kerala. These include the names of V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and KC Venugopal. Now the Congress leadership is trying to prepare such a formula that the three major leaders can be kept satisfied and any kind of rebellion does not arise within the party.

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V.D. Satheesan- VD Satheesan took over the responsibility of Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly after the defeat of Congress in 2016 and 2021. Under his leadership, UDF won 18 out of 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Satheesan is considered a strong and influential face of UDF in Kerala politics. He has been elected MLA from Paravur seat several times in a row. On Friday (May 8, 2026), his supporters demonstrated in many parts of Kerala and demanded that he be made the Chief Minister.

Of. C. Venugopal- AICC Organization General Secretary K. C. Venugopal is also among the major contenders for the post of Chief Minister of Kerala. He is considered very close to the Congress leadership, especially Rahul Gandhi. He played an important role in the 2026 assembly election campaign and also had a major role in formulating the party strategy.

KC Venugopal’s name is definitely in the running for CM in Kerala, but he has not contested the assembly elections this time, so if he is made the CM, then under the constitutional process, he will have to become a member of the Assembly or Legislative Council in the next 6 months.

Ramesh Chennithala- Ramesh Chennithala is counted among the senior Congress leaders of Kerala. He has also previously been the Home Minister of Kerala. He is considered to have a strong hold in the party organization. In the 2026 assembly elections, he has won from Haripad seat for the sixth consecutive time.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday (March 21, 2026) has fiercely targeted the Congress Party and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He also accused Congress of being the B-team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In fact, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had recently said that all the agencies of the Center took action against all the opposition leaders of the country and even arrested them, but no action was taken against the Chief Minister of Kerala.

Regarding this statement of Rahul, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party are actually the B-team of BJP. Some people don’t learn anything even from their experiences. Such people are not normal at all. He is also a rare example. This happens with those people, who are generally not capable of understanding things and Rahul Gandhi falls in this category.

Kejriwal getting clean chit is a shock for Rahul Gandhi: CM

In an interview given to news agency PTI, Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, ‘Rahul Gandhi had made many serious allegations against former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, but the court acquitted him of all charges and gave him a clean chit. The court’s decision was a severe blow to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Despite this he is repeating the same mistake again. That’s why I said that they don’t learn lessons from their experiences.

BJP-Congress alliance has happened many times before: CM

The Chief Minister claimed that the alliance of Congress and BJP has been seen many times in the state, but what will be the outcome in the upcoming elections, it is not completely clear at the moment. Both those parties oppose LDF in the same way and it seems that there is coordination between them.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released the first list of 22 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal The entire party is busy strengthening the organization in Kerala. After performing brilliantly in the Kerala civic elections, the party is now making full efforts to play its role in power in the state.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had earlier said that the assembly elections to be held in Kerala will set a benchmark for democratic practices. He expressed confidence in the preparations of the state’s election machinery and the cooperation of political parties.

The Aam Aadmi Party hereby announces the first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Election in the state of Keralam (Kerala). pic.twitter.com/0VoDz1D5gM

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 12, 2026

AAP candidates list

• Dr. Celine Philip (Female, General) – Kottayam Assembly Constituency
• Dr. Alphonsa Mathew (Female, General) – Kozhikode North
• Nature NV (Other, Reserved – ST) – Sultan Bathery
• Adv Basil John (Male, General) – Thodupuzha
• Vinu’s (male, common) – Nemam (Thiruvananthapuram district)
• Dr. Shaju K Y (Kavungal) (Male, General) – Irinjalakuda (Thrissur)
• Jithin Sadanandan (General) – Wadakkanchery (Thrissur)
• Pauly Francis Guruvayur (Male, General) – Guruvayur (Thrissur)
• Jayakrishnan P N – Pudukkad (Thrissur)
• Wilson Cullen- Chalakudy (Thrissur)
• Dr. K.M. Francis Roy (Male, General) – Kodungallur (Thrissur)
• Rafiq CA (Male, General) – Kalpetta (Wayanad)
• Mustafa PK (General) – Koyalandi (Kozhikode)
• Adv. PPA Sejir (Male, General) – Manjeri (Malappuram)
• Abubakar K.P. (Male, General) – Malappuram (Malappuram)
• Abdul Aziz Kadalundi (Male, General) – Vallikkunnu (Malappuram)
• Udayan Sukumaran (Male, General) – Palakkad
• Hakkihath Hameed (Male, General) – Aluva (Ernakulam)
• Shamsu T.K. – Kalamassery (Ernakulam)
• Jose George (Male, General) – Thrippunithura (Ernakulam)
• Mamachan D – Kottarakkara (Kollam)
• Manoj S.P. – Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram)

Election Commission’s special preparation for Kerala elections

The Election Commission said that to ensure transparency in the voting process in the state, 100 percent webcasting will be done at all the polling stations. To increase voter participation, special arrangements have been made for senior citizens above 85 years of age and disabled people. They will be able to vote from home.

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The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (24 February 2026) approved the state government’s proposal to change the name of Kerala to ‘Keralaam’. Regarding this, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the Center and accused it of discriminating against Bengal. He said that the Bengal Assembly passed the proposal to change the name of the state to Bangla twice, but the Center has not yet given approval.

Mamta Banerjee targets the center

CM Mamata Banerjee said, ‘The name of West Bengal starts with W, hence the students of Bengal get the last chance in interviews and they themselves get the chance in national meetings.’ He alleged that BJP does not respect the sentiments of Bengalis and uses the word Bangla only during elections. CM Mamata said, ‘Due to the growing alliance of BJP and CPIM in Kerala, it became easy to change the name there. One day the power will change and we will definitely change the name of West Bengal.

TMC is demanding to change the name of the state

Ever since TMC came to power in Bengal, it has been demanding to change the name of the state. Last month, TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee had raised this issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha. He demanded changing the name of West Bengal to ‘Bangla’, saying that this name reflects the history and culture of the state. He had said, ‘The West Bengal Assembly had unanimously passed the proposal to change the name of the state in July 2018, but the central government has not yet given approval.’

According to the TMC MP, CM Mamata Banerjee had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this issue. After forming the government in 2011, TMC had suggested the Center to change the name of the state. After this he proposed to change the name of Sal state to Bongo or Bangla.

Center approved the proposal to change the name of Kerala

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that in the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the proposal to change the name of Kerala state to ‘Keralaam’ was approved. After the approval of the Union Cabinet, President Draupadi Murmu will send the Bill titled Kerala (Change of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala State Assembly for consideration under the provision of Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The Kerala Assembly had passed a resolution to change the name of Kerala to ‘Keralaam’ on June 24, 2024.

BJP state president Rajiv Chandrashekhar has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to intervene in the matter, requesting him to change the name of the state to Keralam. In his letter, he also mentioned the bill passed by the Kerala Assembly in June 2024 to change the official name of Kerala to Keralam in the government records. Besides, accepting the decision of the Assembly, he has also sent a copy of a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

What did the BJP leader write in his letter?

BJP leader Chandrashekhar said that BJP recognizes this great state best by the name ‘Keralaam’. It represents its heritage and culture. In his letter to the Prime Minister, he said that he hoped that all political parties would work together to revive and preserve the rich traditions of Kerala.

He said that a developed and safe Kerala can be created by respecting and protecting the beliefs and customs of all religious communities. He said that officially adopting the name Keralam will help in countering the efforts of extremist groups. These are the people who want to divide the state. They are demanding separate districts on the basis of religion.

Proposal to change the name of Kerala passed in the Assembly

Let us tell you that the Vijayan government of Kerala has unanimously passed a resolution in the Assembly to change the name of the state. The proposal was unanimously accepted by the opposition Congress-led UDF and the ruling party in the Assembly. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had presented a proposal and appealed to the Center to change the name of the state in the Constitution to ‘Keralam’, after which now Rajiv Chandrashekhar, who comes from Kerala, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding to change the name of the state to ‘Keralam’.

What is the meaning of the word Kerala?

There is another meaning of the word Kerala. It means that land which has emerged from the sea. The confluence of sea and mountains is also called Kerala. Ancient foreign travelers also addressed this place by the name Malabar. For a long time this land was under the control of Chera kings. For this reason it might have been named Cheralam and then Keralam.