VD Satheesan Takes Oath As Kerala Chief Minister, UDF Returns To Power After 10 Years
Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after a decade.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan and his 20-member council of ministers in the presence of top Congress leaders, alliance partners and political figures from across the country.
The swearing-in ceremony turned into a major political event, drawing senior Congress leadership including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Leaders from Congress-ruled states also attended the event to celebrate the UDF’s massive victory in Kerala.
Interestingly, outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar were also present on the stage, highlighting a rare moment of political civility. After taking oath, Satheesan greeted leaders across party lines, a gesture that was widely appreciated.
Kerala Chief Minister’s Cabinet With Fresh Faces And Experienced Leaders
One of the key highlights of the new government is the mix of experienced leaders and first-time ministers. Out of the 20 ministers in the Cabinet, 14 are serving as ministers for the first time, signalling the Congress leadership’s attempt to balance experience with fresh energy.
Senior Congress leaders such as Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph are part of the ministry.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), one of the key allies in the UDF, secured five ministerial berths. The IUML ministers include PK Kunhalikutty, KM Shaji, PK Basheer, N Shamsudheen and VE Abdul Gafoor.
Other ministers in the Cabinet are Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, C P John, A P Anilkumar, T Siddique, P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindhu Krishna, M Lijju, K A Thulasi and O J Janeesh.
Satheesan also announced senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as the new Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker. MLA Apu John Joseph has been appointed Government Chief Whip.
UDF’s Massive Victory Changed Kerala’s Political Mood
The UDF registered a landslide victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 63 seats, while the IUML secured 22 seats.
On the other hand, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which ruled Kerala for two consecutive terms, was reduced to just 35 seats. The BJP managed to win three constituencies.
Political observers believe the result reflected growing public demand for change after 10 years of LDF rule. Rising anti-incumbency, governance issues and the Congress party’s aggressive campaign strategy played a major role in the UDF’s comeback.
How Satheesan Emerged As Congress’ Choice
VD Satheesan’s selection for the Kerala Chief Minister’s post was not without intense discussions within the Congress party. According to party insiders, the Congress central leadership had reportedly considered KC Venugopal for the role.
However, strong backing from grassroots workers, support from IUML allies and growing public sentiment in favour of Satheesan eventually helped him secure the top position.
Widely credited for rebuilding the Congress organisation in Kerala and leading the opposition aggressively against the LDF government, Satheesan is now expected to face the challenge of meeting the huge expectations that come with the UDF’s return to power.