THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: VD Satheesan took the oath of office as the new Chief Minister of Kerala at a packed ceremony in the Central Stadium on Monday morning. Administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the swearing-in marks the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after a decade in opposition.
The high-profile event was attended by top national leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alongside outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
High-Stakes Delhi vs. State Selection Drama
While Satheesan (61) was widely seen as the architect behind the UDF’s massive comeback, his path to the top post was marred by an intense ten-day internal party deadlock:
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The Delhi Choice: The Congress central leadership aggressively pushed for KC Venugopal (AICC General Secretary of Organisation) for the top job. While a majority of state MLAs initially sided with New Delhi’s pick, the local public and powerful ally IUML firmly backed Satheesan.
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The Wayanad Ultimatum: Pro-Satheesan posters emerged across the state, explicitly warning Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi that Wayanad would “do an Amethi” (defeat them in future elections) if the local mandate was overwritten.
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The Resolution: The political logjam was finally broken after a direct phone call between INDIA bloc chairperson Sonia Gandhi and veteran leader AK Antony, clearing the way for Satheesan.
A 20-Member Cabinet Built on New Faces
The newly minted 20-member Cabinet reflects a major generational shift, featuring 14 fresh faces. For the first time in Kerala’s history, the state will be led by a Chief Minister with no prior ministerial experience.
The legislative leadership is rounded off with Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Assembly Speaker, Shanimol Usman as Deputy Speaker, and Apu John Joseph as Government Chief Whip.
Cabinet Composition by Party:
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Congress (11 Seats): Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh*, Roji M John*, Bindhu Krishna*, M Liju, T Siddique*, KA Thulasi*, and OJ Janeesh*.
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Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) (5 Seats): PK Kunhalikutty, KM Shaji*, V Abdul Gafoor*, N Shamsuddin*, and PK Basheer*.
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Allies (4 Seats): Mons Joseph (KC-J), Shibu Baby John (RSP), Anoop Jacob (KC-Jacob), and CP John* (CMP).
*Denotes first-time ministers
A Landslide Mandate
The UDF completely swept the assembly elections, fracturing the Left’s hold by capturing 102 seats in the 140-member house.
| Party/Coalition | Seats Won |
| Congress (Single largest party) | 63 |
| IUML | 22 |
| Left Democratic Front (LDF) | 35 |
| BJP | 3 |
Satheesan Declares End to VIP Culture
Stepping into office, Chief Minister Satheesan immediately targeted state spending, rolling out strict austerity measures to rescue Kerala from its current financial strain:
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No New Luxury Cars: Breaking decades of political tradition, the Cabinet rejected buying new official luxury cars. All ministers, including the Chief Minister, will use the vehicles left behind by the previous LDF administration.
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Scrapping VIP Convoys: The heavy, public-disrupting security entourages have been eliminated. The CM will travel with just a single pilot vehicle and one escort car—completely removing security ambulances and additional police blocks.
