Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Pinarayi Vijayan is set to be the chief minister of Kerala, after the party came to a decision on Friday. The move was announced after a state committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, for which party general secretary Sitaram Yechury as well as senior leader Prakash Karat were present.

Vijayan, 72, was in the race to become chief minister of Kerala along with CPI(M) veteran VS Achutanandan. The 93-year-old Achutanandan reportedly left the meeting soon after it commenced. The national leadership of the party informed Achutanandan that Vijayan will be the chief minister, ANI reported, quoting sources.

Results of the 2016 Kerala Assembly elections were announced on Thursday. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front powered to a 45-constituency win over the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Oommen Chandy submitted his resignation to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam earlier in the day.