Big Day in Kerala as V D Satheesan to Take Oath as CM Today, Cabinet Finalised Ahead of Grand Ceremony

The Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to formally assume power in Kerala with the swearing in of Chief Minister designate V D Satheesan and his 20 member Cabinet on Monday at the Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram , marking a major political shift after the coalition secured a decisive mandate of 102 seats in the 140 member Assembly , ending a decade of Left Democratic Front rule in the state.

Preparations for the grand ceremony are in full swing, with a massive stage, extensive seating arrangements for thousands of supporters and leaders, and temporary shelters being set up at the venue. Security has been tightened across the capital, with elaborate traffic and crowd management plans in place for the movement of VVIPs, party workers, and dignitaries arriving from across Kerala and other states.

The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 10 am , will see Satheesan take oath along with his Council of Ministers, followed by the formal start of the new government’s administrative transition. The Cabinet list is expected to be finalised and submitted to the Governor shortly before the swearing in.

Political activity in Thiruvananthapuram has intensified in the run up to the event, with Satheesan holding consultations with UDF allies including the Indian Union Muslim League , Kerala Congress factions , RSP , and other smaller partners to finalise portfolio allocations and ensure balanced representation. Senior Congress leaders including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala have been closely involved in discussions aimed at maintaining both alliance unity and internal coordination.

In a parallel development, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) , a key partner in the UDF, announced its ministerial nominees for the new Kerala government. IUML supremo Panakkad Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal said five leaders have been chosen for ministerial roles, including P K Kunhalikutty , N Shamsuddin , K M Shaji , P K Basheer , and V E Abdul Gafoor , following internal discussions and coalition level power sharing understanding.

Chief Minister designate V D Satheesan also finalised the broader Cabinet lineup after alliance consultations, saying it reflects social balance and regional representation , while noting that several deserving leaders could not be accommodated despite the Congress winning 63 seats in the election.

Senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala , K Muraleedharan , and Sunny Joseph are set to be inducted into the Cabinet. The alliance has also decided to appoint Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker.

Satheesan said discussions on portfolio allocation among UDF partners are nearly complete, with only minor adjustments pending. The final Cabinet list will be submitted to the Governor and later notified after formal approval, ahead of the oath taking ceremony scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram.

In a significant show of support from the national leadership, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are set to attend the ceremony. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also be present, along with leaders from Congress ruled states including Karnataka , Telangana , and Himachal Pradesh , while invitations have also been extended to other key leaders.