In a landmark political development, Kerala is set to witness the swearing-in of a 21-member Cabinet under Chief Minister-elect V.D. Satheesan.
The ceremony, scheduled for 10 AM on Monday, marks the first time in 60 years that the entire United Democratic Front (UDF) Cabinet will take the oath together.
Satheesan underscored the speed of the process, noting that the Cabinet was finalised within 24 hours—an achievement he described as unprecedented in Kerala’s political history. The Congress party will dominate the ministry with 11 ministers, including Satheesan himself, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, and Bindhu Krishna. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) will hold five key positions, led by PK Kunhalikutty and KM Shaji. Other allies such as Kerala Congress, RSP, Kerala Congress (Jacob), and CMP will also be represented.
The Assembly leadership has been decided, with Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan named Speaker and Shanimol Usman as Deputy Speaker.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to draw national attention, with senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attending. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Himachal CM Sukhu, and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will also be present. Opposition leaders, including outgoing CM Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, are slated to attend, underscoring the political significance of the event.
Portfolio allocation discussions are ongoing, with the final list to be submitted to the Governor before being issued as a gazette notification. The historic swearing-in is expected to set the tone for Kerala’s governance under Satheesan’s leadership, blending continuity with a promise of renewed momentum.
