VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister as UDF returns to power after 10 years

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday officially returned to power in Kerala after a decade, with senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan sworn in as the state’s new chief minister at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan at the Central Stadium amid loud cheers from party workers, alliance leaders and supporters who gathered in large numbers to witness the transition of power.

The swearing-in ceremony marked a major political comeback for the UDF, which defeated the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in the state by winning 63 seats, while the UDF secured a commanding majority with 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The LDF was reduced to 35 seats, ending its second consecutive term in office.

Satheesan, 61, took oath in the name of God and was followed by members of his 20-member Council of Ministers representing various UDF allies. Senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P. K. Kunhalikutty was the first minister to be sworn in after the chief minister. Veteran Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan and Sunny Joseph also joined the Cabinet.

The new ministry includes 12 ministers from the Congress, five from the IUML and one representative each from Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (Jacob), the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).

Top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal, attended the ceremony, signaling the importance of Kerala’s victory for the national leadership ahead of future electoral battles.

Several Congress chief ministers and senior leaders from across the country were also present, including Siddaramaiah, D. K. Shivakumar, A. Revanth Reddy and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Leaders from rival political parties also attended the event, including outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI leader Binoy Viswam.

Cabinet features several first-time ministers

The Satheesan Cabinet reflects an attempt to balance experience, caste and regional representation while bringing in new faces. Fourteen ministers took oath for the first time.

Among the first-time ministers are M Liju, Mons Joseph, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, KA Thulasi and OJ Janeesh.

Mons Joseph is the only member of the new Cabinet who had previously served as a minister during the V.S. Achuthanandan-led LDF government between 2007 and 2009.

Ahead of the ceremony, Satheesan said the Cabinet was finalized within 24 hours while ensuring adequate social, regional and gender representation.

“We have to ensure social balance, regional balance, women’s representation and Dalit representation,” Satheesan told reporters.

The chief minister also announced key Assembly appointments. Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will serve as Speaker of the Kerala Assembly, while Shanimol Usman has been chosen as Deputy Speaker. MLA Apu John Joseph will take charge as Government Chief Whip.

Welfare promises likely to dominate first Cabinet meeting

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony and an official tea reception, the new Cabinet headed to the Kerala Secretariat for its first meeting, where implementation of the UDF’s election promises was expected to dominate discussions.

Chennithala said the government would move quickly to roll out the five guarantees announced during the campaign by Rahul Gandhi.

The promises include free bus travel for women, a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for college-going girls, welfare pensions of Rs 3,000, health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh under the Oommen Chandy health scheme, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Political observers see the welfare-focused agenda as a key pillar of the UDF’s electoral strategy, especially amid rising concerns over unemployment, inflation and welfare delivery in the state.

A lawyer by profession, Satheesan has represented the Paravur Assembly constituency since 2001 and won his sixth consecutive election this year. He became Leader of Opposition after the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections and emerged as the principal face of the UDF’s campaign against the Left government.