Thiruvananthapuram is poised for a significant political transition on Monday as V D Satheesan, the Congress leader designated as chief minister, and his council of ministers prepare to be sworn in at the Central Stadium. This event signals the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power in Kerala after a decade, following its strong performance in the recent Assembly elections.
The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for 10 am, will see Satheesan take the oath alongside a full 21-member cabinet — a rare occurrence after nearly six decades. Satheesan submitted the list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday. Congress is expected to hold 11 positions in the cabinet, with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) securing five. Prominent names from IUML tipped for ministerial roles include P K Kunhalikutty, K M Shaji, N Shamsuddeen (also referred to as N Samsudheen), P K Basheer, and V E Abdul Gafoor.
Senior national Congress figures, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to attend the event, along with chief ministers from Congress-ruled states such as Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.
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Ahead of the ceremony, Satheesan met Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, seeking blessings for his new role. In a post on X, he emphasised his commitment to inclusive governance and the state’s development, describing the Cardinal’s guidance as a source of strength.
Mallikarjun Kharge described the UDF’s victory as “unprecedented” and a “huge mandate,” expressing satisfaction with the outcome while heading to Thiruvananthapuram. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala highlighted the need to respect the people’s “spectacular victory” and pledged good governance, noting the long-standing alliance with the IUML spanning four decades. Chennithala is also expected to join the cabinet.
Cabinet formation involved intense negotiations within the UDF. Reports indicate that senior leader K C Venugopal has played a key role, with several of his allies securing important portfolios, sparking some internal discontent. Satheesan, who described himself as a “Nehruvian socialist,” also announced plans for a leaner security convoy to minimise public inconvenience.
The UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, ending the Left Democratic Front’s ten-year tenure. The new government is expected to focus on effective administration as it assumes office.