VD Satheesan takes oath as Kerala Chief Minister; New era for Congress begins

VD Satheesan's oath as Kerala CM: VD Satheesan was administered oath of the office by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

VD Satheesan oath ceremony: A new era begins for Kerala Congress as VD Satheesan took oath as Chief Minister of the state, marking a generational shift in the party’s state leadership. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered oath of office to Satheesan and his cabinet ministers this morning. Appointed as the Leader of Opposition following the Congress party’s defeat in the 2021 polls, Satheesan successfully spearheaded the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power, ending the Left’s 10 years of rule. 

Also Read: Inside story: How Sonia Gandhi and AK Antony broke the 9-day Kerala CM deadlock

Kerala CM Oath Ceremony, Guest List

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The event formally marked the UDF's return to power in Kerala after a decade, following its decisive victory in the Assembly elections.

Several senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge, MP KC Venugupal, along with chief ministers from Congress-ruled states, attended the ceremony.  The new administration assumes office with a 21-member cabinet, including the Chief Minister. 

VD Satheesan Cabinet Berth Sharing

Congress has 11 ministerial positions, including the Chief Minister’s post. Meanwhile, coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) receive five ministerial positions in the new government. The final cabinet composition provides a clearer picture of the power-sharing arrangement within the newly elected UDF government. Significantly, 14 members of the new ministry are first-time ministers, giving the Cabinet a distinctly fresh and youthful character.

Kerala Cabinet 2026 Full List:

Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan: Speaker
Shanimol Usman: Deputy Speaker
VD Satheesan- Chief Minister
P K Kunhalikutty, 
P K Basheer, 
P K Shamshudeen, 
K M Shaji 
N Shamsudeen
Ramesh Chennithala
K Muraleedharan 
Sunny Joseph
Mons Joseph
Shibu Baby John
Anoop Jacob
C. P. John
A. P. Anil Kumar
P. C. Vishnunadh
Roji M. John
Bindu Krishna
M. Liju
V. E. Abdul Gafoor
K. A. Thulasi
O. J. Jenish Kumar

Also Read: Kerala Cabinet Full List: CM-designate Satheesan unveils 21-member team; 5 from IUML, 3 women included

Kerala Election Results 2026

The swearing-in marks not merely a change of government, but the beginning of what Congress leaders are calling a new political era in Kerala. From the crack of dawn itself, the state capital wore a festive look. After years in the political wilderness and repeated electoral setbacks, the UDF scripted a spectacular comeback by winning a staggering 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, with the Congress alone bagging a record 63 seats, its best-ever tally in the state.

In the 2026 assembly elections, the Congress secured 63 seats while the IUML got 22 seats. Kerala Congress (Jacob) and Communist Marxist Party have one seat each, Kerala Congress - KEC has seven seats and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has three seats.