After Historic Win, UDF Faces Cabinet Balancing Act Ahead of Satheesan’s Oath

Kerala is on the cusp of a historic political transition as Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan prepares to be sworn in on Monday, ending a decade of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule and marking the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) most emphatic comeback in years. Congress officially named Satheesan as the next Chief Minister on May 14 following the UDF’s decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, with the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for 10 am on May 18 .

The swearing-in will be held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, and Satheesan has firmly maintained that the entire cabinet should take oath together , reflecting his position that the victory belonged to “Team UDF”.

The occasion is being shaped into a grand political event, with Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expected to attend as the Congress-led alliance returns to power after ten years in the opposition .

Behind the celebrations, however, an intense power-sharing exercise is underway, with alliance partners and Congress factions negotiating hard for representation in the new ministry.

The Congress emerged as the single largest party in the UDF with 63 seats , followed by the IUML with 22, Kerala Congress (Joseph) with seven, and the RSP with three. The RMP, Kerala Congress (Jacob) and the CMP won one seat each, while four Independents are also backing the coalition.

In the proposed 21-member cabinet , Congress is expected to retain around 11 ministerial berths , including the Chief Minister’s post, besides the Speaker’s position .

The IUML , the second-largest UDF constituent, is likely to secure five cabinet positions , matching its representation in the previous Oommen Chandy government. Kerala Congress (Joseph) is seeking two berths, though one of those positions could eventually be adjusted as the Assembly Chief Whip’s post . The RSP is expected to get one ministerial berth, while smaller allies including Kerala Congress (Jacob) , the CMP , and the Kerala Democratic Party led by Mani C Kappen are also pressing for cabinet representation.

A key subplot remains the role of RMP leader K K Rema , whose victory from Vadakara became one of the defining moments of the election. Though the UDF reportedly offered her a ministerial berth, she is understood to have declined the proposal even as the RMP continues to seek representation in the ministry.

Inside the Congress, negotiations over portfolios have added another layer of complexity. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala is reportedly keen on handling the Home department , while Satheesan is said to prefer retaining the crucial portfolio himself. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal , who arrived in Thiruvananthapuram for the final round of talks, expressed confidence that all issues would be resolved smoothly.

Several Congress leaders are being considered for ministerial roles, including Sunny Joseph , Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan , K Muraleedharan , Bindu Krishna , Chandy Oommen , V T Balram , and Anvar Sadath . There is also growing pressure on Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to accept the Speaker’s post .

Meanwhile, Satheesan has signalled an austere style of governance from the outset, announcing that his official convoy would be limited to the minimum possible number of vehicles , in contrast to the large motorcades associated with the outgoing administration.

With bilateral discussions among UDF allies expected to finalise the cabinet list, all eyes are now on Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala prepares for a new political chapter carrying both a massive electoral mandate and heightened public expectations.