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Kerala Oath Taking Ceremony Highlights: VD Satheesan Sworn In As Chief Minister
Edited by Srishti Kapoor | Updated: May 18, 2026 12:44 IST
VD Satheesan Oath Ceremony Highlights
Kerala Cabinet, VD Satheesan Oath Ceremony Today Highlights: Predictions of a thunderstorm have refused to dampen the spirits of the United Democratic Front (UDF) cadre, which cheered on Congress leader VD Satheesan as he took oath as Kerala chief minister at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium.
Satheesan's induction as the Kerala chief minister will mark the UDF's return in the state after a decade, bringing to reality the coalition's election call - Kerala Jayikkum, UDF Nayikkum (Kerala will win, UDF will lead).
Apart from Satheesan, a full Cabinet comprising 20 ministers will also be sworn in. Senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to be present.
The Congress-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the recently held Assembly elections, unseating the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). The results of the elections to the 140-member Assembly held on April 9 were declared on May 4, with the Congress-led UDF winning 102 seats, the LDF 35, and the BJP 3.
It took 11 days for the Congress to announce the Chief Minister-designate, with Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala in the race for the post. Satheesan (61), who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the last five years, is being credited with revitalising the party's grassroots base.
Kerala Cabinet Formation, VD Satheesan Oath Ceremony Today Highlights
About Kerala Ministers
M Liju: M Liju (46), another new face in the Cabinet, won from the Kayamkulam constituency, marking his first electoral victory in a political career spanning more than two decades. Though he has held various party positions, including KPCC general secretary (organisation), Liju had lost in earlier elections.
OJ Janeesh: OJ Janeesh (37) is the youngest minister in the Cabinet. His inclusion came as a surprise, as he became the Youth Congress state president only last year. He won from the Kodungallur constituency in Thrissur district.
Lawyer, Grassroots Leader: About Kerala Ministers
N Shamsudheen: N Shamsudheen (56) has been representing the Mannarkkad constituency in Palakkad for a fourth term. He is a key IUML leader in the district, known for his grassroots connect and acceptability among supporters of various UDF parties.
KA Thulasi: KA Thulasi (52), who represents the Kongad (SC) constituency, is the wife of Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan and a former History professor at NSS College, Nenmara. She has held various positions in the KPCC and brings organisational experience to the Cabinet.
T Siddique: T Siddique (51) represents the Kalpetta constituency in Wayanad district. A lawyer by profession, he is the sole Muslim minister from the Congress party in the cabinet. He has served as Youth Congress state president, KPCC general secretary and KPCC vice president. He won the Kalpetta seat for the second time in 2026 Assembly polls.
Fiery Orator, 4-Term MLA: About IUML Ministers In Kerala Cabinet
KM Shaji: KM Shaji (55), an IUML leader representing the Vengara seat in the assembly, is known for his fiery speeches. He has been contesting elections since 2006, securing three victories and suffering two defeats. He has also courted controversy over remarks made in his speeches. He was disqualified as an MLA by the Kerala High Court over a religious appeal during the 2016 election campaign, but the Supreme Court later stayed the order.
VE Abdul Gafoor: VE Abdul Gafoor (49), son of IUML stalwart V K Ebrahimkunju, was a surprise inclusion in the Cabinet. He defeated CPI(M) leader and Industries Minister in the previous Left government, P Rajeev, from the Kalamassery seat. Gafoor had earlier lost to Rajeev in the 2021 election. His entry is seen as crucial for strengthening the IUML's presence in central Kerala.
PK Basheer: PK Basheer (66), son of late IUML stalwart P Sethi Haji, has been representing the Ernad constituency in Malappuram district for a fourth term. It is the first time he has been inducted into the Cabinet. He is a popular face in the IUML and had actively campaigned for a ministerial berth.
JNU Alumnus, Ezhava Community Leader: About Kerala Ministers
PC Vishnunadh: PC Vishnunadh (48) represents the Kundara constituency in Kollam. He has been active in organisational roles in the Congress since his youth. He has served as KSU president, Youth Congress president, AICC secretary and KPCC working president. He was first elected from the Chengannur seat in 2006 before moving to Kundara in 2021.
Roji M John: One of the young faces in the UDF cabinet, Roji M John (43), holds an M Phil degree and has been representing Angamaly constituency since 2021. A former NSUI president and JNU alumnus, he was a key voice in the 2021-2026 Assembly. A fresh face in the cabinet, he is expected to be given an important portfolio.
Bindu Krishna: A prominent Congress leader, Bindu Krishna (53), was elected to the Assembly for the first time from Kollam after multiple unsuccessful attempts. She belongs to the numerically strong Ezhava community and has held various organisational roles in the Congress, including positions in the Mahila Congress, AICC and KPCC.
PM Modi Assures Centre's Support To VD Satheesan Government
Congratulations to Shri VD Satheesan Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam. My best wishes for his tenure. The Central Government assures all possible support for the newly formed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspirations of the people.@vdsatheesan
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2026
VD Satheesan Takes Oath As Chief Minister: What Next?
The Kerala MLAs are scheduled to take oath on May 21, followed by the election of the Assembly Speaker on May 22.
The Kerala MLAs are scheduled to take oath on May 21, followed by the election of the Assembly Speaker on May 22.
The Governor's policy address is scheduled for May 29, and the state budget is likely to be presented by June 5.
All Eyes On Cabinet Action On Poll Promises
All eyes are on the first Cabinet decisions, as the UDF had promised five key guarantees - free KSRTC bus travel for women, a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for girl students in colleges, an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000, health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh per household, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for young entrepreneurs.
Ahead of taking oath, Chief Minister VD Satheesan had promised to increase the honorariums of ASHA workers once the UDF government is formed.
On cabinet decisions, he said announcements would be made soon after the first Cabinet meeting. "Whatever we promised will be implemented. We have come here to realise the aspirations of the people," he said.
Video: Child Climbs On Stage, Meets Rahul Gandhi
VIDEO | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: A child climbs onto the stage and greets Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the oath-taking ceremony continues.
- Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2026
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/5K4Z7MZuHW
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: New Ministers And Which Parties They Belong To
Congress: Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, Sunny Joseph, PC Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, KA Thulasi, M Liju and OJ Janeesh
IUML: PK Kunhalikutty, N Shamsuddin, KM Shaji, PK Basheer and VE Abdul Gafoor
RSP: Shibu Baby John
Kerala Congress: Mons Joseph
Kerala Congress (Jacob): Anoop Jacob
CMP: CP John
The Cabinet includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community. It has 14 first-time faces.
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: Party-wise Tally Of Ministers Sworn In Today
Congress - 11 ministers
IUML - 5 ministers
Kerala Congress (Joseph) - 1 minister
Kerala Congress (Jacob) - 1 minister
Revolutionary Socialist Party - 1 minister
Communist Marxist Party - 1 minister
Kerala Ministers Take Oath
Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: KPCC President Sunny Joseph takes oath as cabinet minister in the Keralam government led by VD Satheesan
- IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026
(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/2olzC0skOF
Thiruvananthapuram: PK Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan and Mons Joseph take oath as cabinet ministers in the Keralam government led by VD Satheesan
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026
(Source: PRD pic.twitter.com/PwgZ7VuNwO
Video: Ramesh Chennithala Takes Oath As Kerala Minister
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala takes oath as cabinet minister in the Keralam government led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026
(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/gIRqkqvWox
Kerala News: A 3-km Journey Sums Up The Big Political Journey Of Kerala's VD SatheesanThe Cantonment House and Cliff House are hardly three kilometres apart in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. But for VD Satheesan, who is poised to be Kerala's 13th chief minister, that short drive carries the story of one of the sharpest political turnarounds in recent politics.
Cantonment House, the official residence of Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, has often housed leaders waiting for another chance at power. Cliff House, the official residence of the chief minister, represents the centre of political authority in the state. The distance between the two is small on the map. Politically, however, it can take years to cross.
When the Congress-led UDF was decimated in 2021, few imagined Satheesan would be the man to make that journey.
VD Satheesan Takes Oath As Kerala Chief Minister
Congress MLA VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala. He was administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Congress MLA VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala. He was administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Video: What Congress MLA Bindu Krishna Said Ahead Of Ministerial Oath
Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: Congress MLA Bindu Krishna is set to take oath today as a Cabinet Minister
- IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026
Congress MLA Bindu Krishna says, "Actually, I'm very happy and proud to be a minister of Kerala. Thank God, thank Congress party and thank the people of Kollam assembly who... pic.twitter.com/SlSfXhN286
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: VD Satheesan, Rahul Gandhi On Stage Ahead Of Ceremony
Video: Scenes At Thiruvananthapuram's Central Stadium
Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: Preparations are underway at the Central Stadium as V. D. Satheesan is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Keralam today. A large number of people have gathered at the venue ahead of the swearing-in ceremony pic.twitter.com/qVFKCi5DAt
- IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026
Shashi Tharoor On Why He Will Skip Oath Ceremony Of VD SatheesanEven as Kerala prepares for the swearing in of VD Satheesan as the Chief Minister of the state on Monday, one prominent Congress leader will be missing from the high profile event in Thiruvananthapuram would be the flamboyant local MP Shashi Tharoor.
But if recent political developments are any indication, Tharoor's absence from the ceremony is unlikely to diminish his growing visibility within the Congress and Kerala politics.
In a characteristically elegant social media post on Friday on X, Tharoor expressed regret over missing the occasion, saying he would be in Boston to deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony of his alma mater, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
"Will Take Up Home Portfolio" Ramesh Chennithala Ahead Of Oath Taking
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala leaves from his residence. He is set to take oath as Keralam Minister in the VD Satheesan-led cabinet today.
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026
He said, "I am going to take up the home portfolio. The duty of the Home Minister is to maintain... pic.twitter.com/7YtO1e10TZ
VD Satheesan Oath LIVE: Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Chief Ministers Arrive
Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Telangana Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Siddaramaiah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Telangana Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Siddaramaiah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
How Sonia Gandhi, AK Antony Solved Kerala Stalemate: Inside StoryThe Congress's Kerala impasse was resolved, but it took nine days since the results of the assembly election in the coastal state were declared. It also took the return of the party's master strategist - one who stitched up the UPA coalition in 2004 by walking to the door of her next-door neighbour, Ram Vilas Paswan. Sources told NDTV that this time, Sonia Gandhi had dialled her oldest and most trusted confidante from Kerala, AK Antony.
Sources said Sonia Gandhi was called in to shed light on the puzzle that had the Congress in a bind - with none of the three Chief Ministerial candidates ready to back down.
kerala chief minister vd satheesan, kc venugopal, why congress picked satheesan over venugopal, new kerala chief ministerVD Satheesan, Not KC Venugopal. Why Congress Picked The Man It Had To
The Congress bit the Kerala chief minister bullet and picked VD Satheesan - the 'people's choice' - over its preferred pick - KC Venugopal - as the head of its new government.
Satheesan, 61, was widely seen as the underdog in this race. Venugopal seemed to tick most, if not all, of the Congress' boxes for this role. He has been credited with helping lead the party to an emphatic win in last month's election.
The new chief minister has the political and electoral authority to match Venugopal.
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: VD Satheesan Credited For Reviving Party Roots
The Assembly elections to the 140-member House were held on April 9, with results declared on May 4. The Congress-led UDF won 102 seats, the LDF secured 35, and the BJP won 3.
The result spelt the return of the UDF in Kerala after 10 years, making the state the third Congress-ruled state in the south in recent times.
VD Satheesan (61), who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the last five years, is credited with revitalising the party's grassroots base.
Who Will Be Part Of VD Satheesan's Cabinet?
After two days of lobbying and discussions, VD Satheesan handed over the list of 20 ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Sunday evening.
The ministers include senior Congress leaders and former ministers Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, and A P Anil Kumar, as well as KPCC chief Sunny Joseph.
Senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, RSP leader Shibu Baby John, Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob will also be part of the cabinet.
There are 14 new faces in the cabinet, including Chief Minister Satheesan, who is holding a government position for the first time despite being elected from Paravur since 2001.
The cabinet includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community.
New faces in the cabinet include C P John and IUML leaders N Shamsuddin, K M Shaji, P K Basheer, and V E Abdul Gafoor. Congress leaders P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, K A Thulasi, and O J Janeesh are also among the first-time ministers.
VD Satheesan Oath Ceremony LIVE: Rahul Gandhia, Priyanka Gandhi Leave For Kerala
VIDEO | Delhi: Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi depart for Thiruvananthapuram to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected UDF government in Kerala.
- Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/FpA0IuTc4i
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: Mallikarjun Kharge Praises "Huge Mandate"
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed happiness ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, crediting the day to the huge mandate given by the people of Kerala.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed happiness ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, crediting the day to the huge mandate given by the people of Kerala.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "VD Satheesan is taking oath today, along with other cabinet ministers... It is an unprecedented victory, we are happy because it was such a huge mandate..." https://t.co/NuMmPNlJTbpic.twitter.com/bFRDOWGYHc
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026
VD Satheesan Is Kerala Chief Minister, But What Happens To Venugopal Now?After what seemed like a lifetime in the political timeline of Kerala, the Congress has chosen VD Satheesan as the state's next Chief Minister.
Satheesan's elevation is, first and foremost, a political lesson of immense significance for every aspirant to high office across parties. The establishment may have had its preferences. The arithmetic within the system may have appeared to favour others. Yet, what ultimately prevailed was sustained political capital earned through relentless groundwork, public credibility, and organic acceptability among cadres and citizens alike.
That is why this is not just Satheesan's victory. It is also KC Venugopal's defeat. More importantly, it is a major face loss for Rahul Gandhi.
Kerala Cabinet Oath Ceremony LIVE: Stage Set, Security In Place
Preparations at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium include a massive stage for the oath-taking ceremony.
Workers are putting up temporary rain shelters and setting up seating for thousands of party workers, national political figures, and local dignitaries.
Tight security arrangements have been put in place across Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the high-profile event.
Special traffic arrangements have also been made in view of the large number of VIPs and UDF supporters expected to arrive in the city.
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE: VD Satheesan, 20 Ministers To Take Oath
A decade after losing power, the UDF is set to form the next government in Kerala, with Congress leader VD Satheesan taking over as the chief minister.
Along with Satheesan, the full Cabinet comprising 20 ministers is also to be sworn in at an event to be held at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Published: May 18, 2026 06:41 IST
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