Published May 17, 2026 | 8:53 PM ⚊ Updated May 17, 2026 | 8:53 PM
CM-designate V D Satheesan handing over the list of Council of Ministers to Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar on Sunday
Synopsis: Kerala Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Sunday, 17 May, announced a 20-member UDF Cabinet in which 14 ministers are first-timers. Congress secured 11 berths, while the IUML got five. Smaller UDF allies also found space in the Cabinet.
Kerala Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Sunday, 17 May, unveiled a 20-member Council of Ministers that will take oath along with him. Fourteen ministers are first-timers, while two are women.
Veteran legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been chosen as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Senior Congress leader Shanimol Osman is set to become Deputy Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Addressing a packed press conference in Thiruvananthapuram after meeting Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Satheesan said the Cabinet was finalised through the “fastest decision-making process in the history of the Congress”.
“It is after nearly 60 years that an entire UDF Cabinet is taking oath together,” he added.
Satheesan said social equations, regional representation and community considerations shaped discussions that continued until the final hours.
“Many eligible people could not be considered while accommodating various equations. I am saddened by that,” he said.
The portfolios have not yet been finalised. Satheesan said details of the portfolio allocation would be submitted to the Governor on Monday, with further decisions expected through an official Gazette notification.
He added that there could still be “surprises” in the coming days.
Congress, the largest constituent in the UDF, secured 11 berths in the ministry.
Senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala (Haripad, Alappuzha) and K Muraleedharan (Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram) are returning to the Cabinet, while several younger faces have entered the front ranks of the government.
Alongside Chennithala and Muraleedharan, the Congress nominees are KPCC president Sunny Joseph (Peravoor, Kannur), AP Anil Kumar (Wandoor-SC, Malappuram), PC Vishnunath (Kundara, Kollam), M Liju (Kayamkulam, Alappuzha), T Siddique (Kalpetta, Wayanad), Bindu Krishna (Kollam), OJ Janeesh (Kodungallur, Thrissur), Roji M John (Angamaly, Ernakulam) and KA Thulasi (Kongad, Palakkad).
Additionally, Thodupuzha Congress MLA Apu John Joseph is set to be appointed as the Government Chief Whip.
Among the biggest talking points were the inclusion of Siddique, Youth Congress president Janeesh, Roji M John and Thulasi.
Their elevation shows the Congress leadership wants younger leaders to take administrative responsibility early in the government’s tenure.
Political circles also quickly noted the visible influence of the camp led by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, Satheesan’s key rival for the chief minister’s post, in the final power-sharing exercise.
Most Congress leaders who found space in the Cabinet are widely seen as aligned with Venugopal’s organisational network.
One of the most discussed inclusions was Thulasi.
Her entry closed the door on a second ministerial berth for Shanimol Osman, who was instead accommodated as Deputy Speaker.
It also ended three-time Thrithala MLA VT Balram’s chances of a ministerial berth since both leaders represent Palakkad district.
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The Indian Union Muslim League, the second-largest party in the UDF in terms of seats, secured five Cabinet berths: PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Shamsuddin, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.
Sources said senior leader Parakkal Abdullah is expected to join the government after two-and-a-half years under a rotational arrangement aimed at balancing regional representation in north Kerala, especially Kozhikode.
Kerala Congress will be represented by Mons Joseph, while the Chief Whip post is expected to go to the party’s Joseph faction. Indications are that Apu Joseph could get the role.
Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Shibu Baby John and Communist Marxist Party leader CP John also found space in the Cabinet.
Another rotational arrangement is expected between Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress (Jacob) and Kerala Democratic Party leader Mani C Kappan. Both are likely to share a ministerial berth for two-and-a-half years each, though the arrangement has not been officially announced.
Senior Congress leaders from across the country are expected to attend Monday’s swearing-in ceremony.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are among the national leaders expected to attend.
