- By Surarika Das
- Mon, 18 May 2026 08:39 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Congress leader VD Satheesan, along with 20 other cabinet members, will take the oath today in Thiruvananthapuram. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10 am and will be administered by Governor RV Arlekar.
The swearing-in ceremony will be attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, his Himachal counterpart Sukhvinder Sukhu, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and other leaders.
Satheesan, who is considered the architect of Congress's remarkable comeback after two consecutive terms by the left-led LDF. He was the obvious choice for many. However, reports suggest the Central leadership of the party wanted another man in the post. It wanted KC Venugopal to emerge as the Chief Minister of Kerala. Venugopal serves as the party General Secretary, he has been identified with Delhi politics for decades.
The MLAs had sided with the Central leaders' choice. It was the people who backed Satheesan and the Congress ally IUML (Indian Union Muslim League).
Posters appeared supporting him that irked the Congress' Delhi leaders. Threats were issued against Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi at Wayanad that the constituency would do an Amethi—dropping them in the next election. That matter has now gone to court.
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A phone conversation between INDIA bloc chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Kerala Chief Minister AK Anthony that finally finalised the way for Satheesan.
Cabinet Ministers To Swear-In Today
Along with Satheesan, several other ministers will take an oath. 11 of them are Congress leaders. They include Ramesh Chennithala, who was an aspirant for the top job; Sunny Joseph; K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, Roji M John; Bindhu Krishna, M Liju, T Siddique, KA Thulasi; and OJ Janeesh.
From the Indian Union Muslim League, or IUML, five ministers will be appointed: PK Kunhalikutty, KM Shaji, V Abdul Gafoor, N Shamsuddin, and PK Basheer. The cabinet will also include Mons Joseph (Kerala Congress-Joseph), Shibu Baby John (Revolutionary Socialist Party), Anoop Jacob (Kerala Congress-Jacob), and C.P. John (Communist Marxist Party).
At least 14 ministers will be newly appointed. The list includes CP John and IUML leaders N Shamsuddin, K M Shaji, PK Basheer, and VE Abdul Gafoor. Congress leaders P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, K A Thulasi, and O J Janeesh.
ALSO READ: 'Kerala Won't Forgive You': Case Filed Over Anti-Rahul Priyanka Gandhi Posters In Wayanad
CM Rejects Luxury Vehicles
Interestingly, Satheesan does not have any administrative background. He would become the first Chief Minister to begin fresh in that area. But the Chief Minister designate has already made a beginning, announcing several sweeping changes that spell an end to the financial extravagance and VIP culture in the state.
When Satheesan was in the Opposition, he had continuously flagged the financial loopholes of the state. Now he has announced a series of austerity measures that include scrapping the massive VIP convoy culture that had irked the people for so long.
Satheesan claimed that he would travel only with a pilot vehicle and a single escort car. He further stated there will be no security vehicles or even ambulances.
The to-be Chief Minister of Kerala has rejected the long-standing practice of purchasing brand-new luxury vehicles for ministers whenever a new government assumes office. Ministers, including the Chief Minister, will continue using the vehicles allotted during the previous administration, he has said.