Published May 18, 2026 | 9:10 AM ⚊ Updated May 18, 2026 | 1:07 PM
VD Satheesan taking oath as the chief minister of Kerala.
Synopsis: Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister on 18 May, at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, along with the full 20-member UDF Cabinet. The ceremony was attended by top national and regional leaders.
Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister on Monday, 18 May, at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the UDF’s return to power after a decade. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to him.
Hundreds of people poured into the Central Stadium to witness the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. The venue turned into a sea of party workers, supporters and curious onlookers as the Congress-led alliance prepared to assume office amid high political excitement.
The ceremony was attended by top national and regional leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy were also present for the occasion, along with their deputies, DK Shivakumar and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
In a notable show of political civility, leaders cutting across party lines — including representatives from the CPI(M), CPI and BJP — have gathered at the venue to witness the transition of power in Kerala.
Also Read: Kerala CM-designate VD Satheesan unveils 20-member ministry
Satheesan met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday and submitted the final Cabinet list.
He had said the entire ministry would take the oath together for the first time in nearly six decades.
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 Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (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).
CP John, who mentioned that he was the only serving Communist minister in India, took the oath of office and secrecy by solemnly affirming in the name of the Constitution of India. John belongs to the Communist Marxist Party (CMP).
RSP leader Shibu Baby John also took the oath of office and secrecy by solemnly affirming in the name of the Constitution of India. At the same time, others who took the oath swore in the name of God.
Additionally, Thodupuzha MLA Apu John Joseph is set to be appointed as the Government Chief Whip.
Satheesan said the ministry was formed after considering social, regional, women’s, and Dalit representation. The Cabinet includes two Scheduled Caste (SC) members and two women ministers.
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will be the Assembly Speaker, while Shanimol Osman will serve as the Deputy Speaker. Apu John Joseph has been named Government Chief Whip.
