VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala CM as UDF returns to power after a decade

Newly sworn-in Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan during the swearing-in ceremony of the state government, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo Credit: @IndianNationalCongress/Yt via PTI Photo

Drawing cheers from thousands of Congress workers and in the presence of a galaxy of national leaders, VD Satheesan was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to power in the State after a decade.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan at a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. A 20-member Cabinet was also sworn in alongside the new Chief Minister.

Satheesan, who took oath in the name of God, will handle the Finance, Ports and Law portfolios. Having served as Leader of the Opposition for the past five years, he is widely credited with revitalising the Congress grassroots network ahead of the Assembly elections.

Senior Indian Union Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty was the second minister to take oath, followed by Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, and K. Muraleedharan among others.

The swearing-in ceremony turned into a major show of strength for the Congress, with senior leaders including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister D. K. Shivakumar and Telengana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy attending the event.

As per the official information available in the PRD site of Kerala Government, Ramesh Chennithala will handle Home and Vigilance, Sunny Joseph gets Revenue, while Muraleedharan will oversee Health and Devaswom in the new Cabinet. A. P. Anil Kumar will head the Power Ministry, while P. C. Vishnunath takes charge of Tourism and Culture. M. Liju will handle Excise and Cooperation, and T. Siddique will oversee Forests.

Among the two women ministers, Bindu Krishna has been assigned Women and Child Development, while K. A. Thulasi will handle SC/ST Welfare. Roji M. John becomes Higher Education Minister and O. J. Janeesh takes charge of Youth Welfare.

Mons Joseph will oversee Water Resources and Irrigation, while C. P. John becomes Transport Minister. The portfolios of the Indian Union Muslim League and other UDF constituents will be announced later following Gazette notification.

Besides Kunhalikutty, the IUML ministers sworn in include P. K. Basheer, K. M. Shaji, N. Shamsudheen and V. E. Abdul Gafoor.

Among those present at the ceremony were former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM State Secretary M. V. Govindan, former Speaker A. N. Shamseer, CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam and BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The Congress-led UDF secured a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member House. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front won 35 seats, while the BJP secured three. The results were declared on May 4.

The Congress leadership had taken 11 days to finalise the Chief Ministerial candidate, with Satheesan, K. C. Venugopal and Chennithala being the main contenders for the post.

Published on May 18, 2026