Congress leader V. D. Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala’s new Chief Minister on Monday, May 18, following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s massive win in the Assembly elections.
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan during a grand ceremony held in Thiruvananthapuram. Satheesan took the oath in the name of God.
Along with him, his 20-member Cabinet was also sworn in. The new ministry includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, A. P. Anil Kumar and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph.
Leaders from alliance partners were also inducted into the Cabinet, including P. K. Kunhalikutty from the Indian Union Muslim League, Shibu Baby John from the Revolutionary Socialist Party and Mons Joseph.
The Cabinet features 14 first-time ministers, including Satheesan himself, who has represented Paravur since 2001 but is taking up an executive role for the first time. The ministry also includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community.
Several senior Congress leaders attended the ceremony, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Left leaders, BJP representatives and chief ministers from Congress-ruled states were also present.
Thousands of UDF workers and Congress supporters gathered at the venue and cheered as the ministers took oath.
Polling for Kerala’s 140-member Assembly was held on April 9, and the results announced on May 4 gave the UDF a clear majority with 102 seats. The Left Democratic Front won 35 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party secured three.