Congress Returns to Power in Kerala; Satheesan Takes Oath as Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram (IANS): V.D. Satheesan took the oath of office on Monday morning as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala, a historic moment that returned the Congress-led UDF government to power after a 10-year hiatus. A thunderous roar swept across the packed Central Stadium as he rose to speak.

When Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar announced Satheesan’s name, the crowd erupted into prolonged cheers. Party workers waved flags and raised slogans, celebrating a political homecoming that Congress supporters had long awaited. The late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had led the state’s last UDF government after taking office in 2011.

The swearing-in ceremony at the Central Stadium—located just a stone’s throw from the Secretariat—carried immense political symbolism and emotional weight. As thousands watched from inside and outside the overflowing venue, Satheesan, who turns 62 this coming Sunday, took the oath in the name of God.

In a departure from established convention, several national and state political heavyweights shared the dais with Satheesan and his 20 Cabinet colleagues. The attendees included Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, State BJP president and newly elected MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar, secretaries of both Communist parties, and senior Congress veterans. The Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh also sat on the stage, underscoring the national importance that the Congress leadership attaches to this Kerala victory.

Veteran IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty took the oath second, followed by senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Sunny Joseph. The 21-member ministry features 12 ministers from the Congress, five from the IUML, and one each from the Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (Jacob), CMP, and RSP.

Supporters flooded the capital city at dawn, quickly overflowing the stadium and leaving many stranded outside the venue.

The new Cabinet balances fresh leadership with unique political history. Mons Joseph stands out as the only minister who previously served in the V.S. Achuthanandan-led Left government between 2007 and 2009, back when his former party, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction, allied with the LDF. Meanwhile, 14 members of the Cabinet took their first-ever oaths as ministers on Monday, giving the government a distinctly fresh face.

Earlier in the day, Satheesan personally received visiting dignitaries at the airport, setting a tone of high symbolism and clear political messaging.

Following a customary post-ceremony tea reception, the newly sworn-in Cabinet headed straight to the Secretariat for its first official meeting. The ministers expect to discuss key decisions immediately, including the implementation of the five guarantees that Rahul Gandhi announced during the election campaign.