Thiruvananthapuram

V. D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday, marking the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front to power after a decade, following its decisive victory over the Left front in the Assembly elections.

Along with Satheesan, his 20-member Cabinet also took oath at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram, where Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office. Representatives of key alliance partners, including the Indian Union Muslim League, the UDF’s second-largest constituent, were also inducted into the ministry.

Satheesan took the oath in the name of God amid loud applause from hundreds of supporters who had gathered from different parts of the state to witness the occasion.

The new Cabinet features several senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, who had earlier been considered a contender for the chief minister’s post, as well as K. Muraleedharan, A. P. Anil Kumar, and state Congress president Sunny Joseph.

Among the prominent attendees were Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Leaders from alliance partners who joined the Cabinet include P. K. Kunhalikutty, Shibu Baby John, Mons Joseph, Anoop Jacob, and C. P. John.

The ministry includes 14 first-time faces, including Satheesan himself, who despite representing Paravur since 2001, is assuming executive office for the first time. Two women have been inducted into the Cabinet — Bindhu Krishna and K. A. Thulasi, with Thulasi also representing the Scheduled Caste community.

Chief ministers from Congress-ruled states, including Siddaramaiah, A. Revanth Reddy, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, attended the ceremony along with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.

Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, senior Left leaders, and representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party were also present.

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In the recently concluded elections to the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the UDF secured a commanding 102 seats, while the Left Democratic Front won 35 seats and the BJP claimed three.