New Delhi: Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister on Monday, leading a 20-member United Democratic Front (UDF) cabinet and marking the Congress-led alliance’s return to power in the state after a decade in opposition.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan and his council of ministers at a ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The event commenced around 10:15 a.m. and lasted approximately one hour, concluding with the recital of Vande Mataram and the National Anthem. Satheesan, 61, repeated the standard constitutional oath after the Governor and then signed the register of oaths.
The new cabinet includes a mix of senior Congress figures and allies, with 14 first-time ministers. Key inclusions from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are PK Kunhalikutty, KM Shaji, PK Basheer, N Shamsudheen, and VE Abdul Gafoor. Other ministers sworn in include Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anilkumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindhu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi, and OJ Janeesh.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended official congratulations via social media: “I am confident that under the collective leadership of the Congress-UDF, Keralam will now witness true progress and future-led development. Dignity, justice, freedom, inclusion, and amity remain the pillars of our commitment.”
In the recently held Kerala Assembly elections on April 9, 2026, the Congress-led UDF secured a decisive landslide victory, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The Indian National Congress alone clinched 63 seats, a significant jump from its 2021 tally. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) was reduced to 35 seats amid strong anti-incumbency, while the BJP-led NDA managed to win three seats. Voter turnout stood at approximately 78.12 per cent. The results marked a strong mandate for change after 10 years of LDF governance under Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Congress party has a long and influential history in Kerala politics, having played a central role in the state’s post-independence political landscape through coalition-building and leadership in multiple governments. Congress-led fronts have formed governments on several occasions since the 1960s, producing chief ministers such as K Karunakaran, AK Antony, and Oommen Chandy. The party has often navigated complex alliances, including with regional forces like the Indian Union Muslim League and various Kerala Congress factions that emerged from splits within the Congress fold in the 1960s. This latest victory revives Congress’s prominence in the state after a decade in opposition.
The ceremony was attended by top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with chief ministers from Congress-ruled states. Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also present, reflecting a smooth transition. This swearing-in ends 10 years of Left Democratic Front rule.
The new government assumes office amid expectations of addressing economic challenges and delivering on promises of inclusive development. Satheesan, a six-time MLA and former Leader of Opposition, is seen as a consensus figure. Elaborate security arrangements were in place for the event.
