Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan officially took office as Kerala's new Chief Minister today, leading a 20-member Council of Ministers. The swearing-in ceremony, held at 10 AM on May 18, 2026, at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, marks the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after a decade in opposition.
UDF Returns to Power After Decisive Mandate
The UDF's comeback follows a commanding victory in the April 9 Assembly elections, where the alliance secured 102 seats in the 140-member House. This outcome delivered a clear defeat to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had governed the state for two consecutive terms under former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
VD Satheesan, a six-time MLA, was selected by the Congress high command after ten days of extensive deliberations. His leadership during the UDF's successful election campaign was a key factor in his selection over other senior leaders like KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
Addressing the press on Sunday, Satheesan described the occasion as historic, emphasizing the UDF's swift and united approach to government formation. "After 60 years, the entire UDF cabinet is set to take the oath tomorrow at 10 AM. We have completed the entire process within 24 hours, a feat unprecedented in the history of Kerala. This was possible because, even after the elections, Team UDF remains Team UDF. The leaders respect each other," he stated.
Meet the New Kerala UDF Cabinet
The new 20-member cabinet features 14 first-time ministers, signaling a deliberate generational shift within the UDF. The ministry ensures broad representation for alliance partners, diverse communities, including women and Scheduled Caste leaders.
Congress (11 Ministers)
- VD Satheesan - Chief Minister
- Ramesh Chennithala
- K Muraleedharan
- Sunny Joseph
- Bindhu Krishna
- AP Anil Kumar
- PC Vishnunadh
- M Liju
- Roji M John
- T Siddique
- OJ Janeesh
- KA Thulasi
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) (5 Ministers)
- PK Kunhalikutty
- PK Basheer
- N Shamsudeen
- KM Shaji
- VE Abdul Gafoor
Other Alliance Partners (4 Ministers)
- Mons Joseph: Kerala Congress
- Shibu Baby John: RSP
- Anoop Jacob: Kerala Congress (Jacob)
- CP John: CMP
Additionally, senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been appointed Speaker of the Assembly, with Shanimol Usman serving as Deputy Speaker.
Key Attendees at the Ceremony
The swearing-in ceremony is anticipated to be a significant display of strength for the Congress-led alliance. Prominent national Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to attend. Chief Ministers from other Congress-ruled states, such as Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Telangana's Revanth Reddy, and Himachal Pradesh's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, are also slated to be present. Invitations have also been extended to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and CPI leader Binoy Viswam.