

Idukki (Kerala) | Kerala Congress (Joseph) chairman P J Joseph on Thursday said the party desires at least two ministerial berths in the new UDF government in Kerala.
The Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction had contested in eight Assembly constituencies and won seven of them in the 2026 state election.
Although Joseph did not contest the Assembly polls, his son Apu John Joseph won from the party stronghold of Thodupuzha in the district with a margin of nearly 85,000 votes.
Speaking to reporters at Thodupuzha before leaving for Thiruvananthapuram, Joseph said the issue of ministerial representation for the party would be settled amicably through discussions.
"Our desire is to get at least two ministers," he said.
When asked whether the party would get a minister from Idukki district, Joseph said it could not be decided at present.
On the chief ministerial candidate, he said the party would express its opinion only if sought by the alliance leadership.
"We will not say anything now. We have not been asked about it till now. If asked, we will give our opinion," he said.
Joseph said he was travelling to Thiruvananthapuram as the presence of party leaders was essential there following the election results.
The chief minister would be from the Congress party, and discussions regarding the post have already begun within the party leadership.
Senior Congress leaders V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K C Venugopal are among the names being discussed for the post.
The UDF registered a major victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, winning 102 out of the 140 seats.