Congress leader V. D. Satheesan officially took charge as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government was sworn in at a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The event marked the UDF’s return to power in the state after a decade.
The oath of office was administered by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in the presence of senior Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge. Thousands of UDF supporters gathered at the venue to witness the ceremony.
Along with Satheesan, 20 ministers from Congress and UDF alliance partners also took oath. The new cabinet includes representatives from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), RSP, Kerala Congress, and Kerala Congress (Jacob). Reports described the ministry as one of the youngest cabinets in Kerala’s recent political history, with several first-time ministers included.
Senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, and Sunny Joseph are part of the ministry. Chennithala is expected to handle the Home portfolio in the new government.
The swearing-in ceremony came after nearly 10 days of intense political discussions and consultations within the Congress high command before Satheesan was officially selected as Chief Minister following the UDF’s victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.
Security arrangements across Thiruvananthapuram were significantly tightened for the ceremony, with heavy police deployment, traffic regulations, and large LED screens installed at various public locations for supporters and the public.
Political observers say Satheesan’s elevation marks a major generational shift in Kerala Congress politics. Over the last few years, he built a strong public image through aggressive opposition campaigns against the previous LDF government on issues related to governance, corruption, and financial management.
The new UDF government is expected to focus on welfare schemes, employment generation, infrastructure development, and implementation of election promises made during the campaign. Congress leaders also stated that the government would prioritise administrative reforms and restoring investor confidence in Kerala.
Meanwhile, celebrations erupted across several districts in Kerala as Congress workers and UDF supporters marked the coalition’s return to power after 10 years.
