Congress leader VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, leading a 21-member United Democratic Front (UDF) government back to power after a decade.The swearing-in ceremony was attended by senior Congress leaders, alliance partners, national political figures and thousands of UDF supporters who gathered in the state capital to witness the change in government after the Congress-led alliance secured a decisive mandate in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.
Along with Satheesan, the full Council of Ministers was sworn in together, marking the first time in nearly six decades that the entire Cabinet took oath simultaneously with the Chief Minister.The 20-member Cabinet sworn in alongside Satheesan includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, along with Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.Other ministers include Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi and OJ Janeesh.
Satheesan, who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the last five years, is widely credited within the party for rebuilding the Congress’s grassroots presence in Kerala. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections with 63 seats, while the UDF alliance won 102 seats in the 140-member House, ending the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front’s 10-year rule in the state.The new government is expected to prioritise the implementation of the UDF’s electoral promises, including free KSRTC bus travel for women, enhanced welfare pensions and financial support schemes for students and young entrepreneurs.