Thiruvananthapuram

In a dramatic political role reversal, senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan will now serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, a post previously held by Congress leader V. D. Satheesan in the outgoing House.

The CPI(M) state committee unanimously selected Vijayan for the position during a meeting attended by party General Secretary M. A. Baby, senior leader A. Vijayaraghavan and Vijayan himself, according to a statement issued by CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan.

After completing a historic ten-year tenure as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2026, Vijayan is set to lead the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the opposition benches following the alliance’s defeat in the Assembly elections.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a decisive victory in the 140-member Assembly, winning 102 seats and ending the LDF’s decade-long rule in the state. The Congress emerged with 63 seats, while its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), won 22 seats.

The LDF managed to secure 35 seats overall, including 26 won by CPI(M), eight by CPI, and one by the RJD.

The political rivalry between Satheesan and Vijayan, which defined the previous Assembly term with one serving as opposition leader and the other as chief minister, is expected to continue with their roles now reversed.

Vijayan had earlier served as CPI(M)’s Kerala state secretary for 17 years beginning in 1998.

Meanwhile, the Congress officially confirmed Satheesan as its chief ministerial choice after days of internal discussions. Senior Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi announced the decision in New Delhi earlier in the day.

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Satheesan later arrived in Thiruvananthapuram for the Congress Legislature Party meeting and is expected to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to formally stake claim to form the new government.