VD Satheesan Takes Oath As 13th CM Of Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan on Monday took oath as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister in a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, formally ending the decade-long rule of CPI(M) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan.

Governor Rajendra V Arlekar administered the oath of office to the ministers at the Central Stadium at around 10 AM. Chief Minister V D Satheesan took the oath in the name of God while two members of his cabinet preferred solemn affirmation. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLAs KM Shaji, PK Basheer and VE Abdul Gafoor, all took oath in the name of God.

The event marked the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) return to power in Kerala after a decade, following its decisive victory in the Assembly elections. Several senior Congress leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party national chief Mallikarjun Kharge, along with chief ministers from Congress-ruled states, have graced the ceremony.

Alongside Satheesan, a 20-member Cabinet also took the oath today. Congress has 11 Ministers in the Cabinet including Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, T Siddique, Bindu Krishna, KA Thulasi, Roji M John, M Liju and OJ Janeesh.

As announced by Satheesan earlier, senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will serve as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will be the Deputy Speaker. MLA Apu John Joseph has been appointed as the Government Chief Whip.