Congress Veteran Assumes Top Post in Kerala
Senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday during a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Alongside him, members of the newly formed Council of Ministers also took the oath of office, marking the formal beginning of the Congress-led administration in the state.
The new Cabinet consists of 20 ministers representing alliance partners and senior leaders from across the coalition. Prominent Congress faces such as Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph were inducted into the ministry.
IUML Leaders Get Key Representation in New Government
The Cabinet also reflects strong representation from the Indian Union Muslim League, a major ally in the ruling coalition. Senior IUML leaders including P. K. Kunhalikutty, P. K. Basheer, N. Samsudheen, K. M. Shaji and V. E. Abdul Gafoor were among those sworn in.
Other ministers in the Cabinet include Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, C. P. John, A. P. Anil Kumar, T. Siddique, P. C. Vishnunath, Roji M. John, Bindu Krishna, M. Liju, K. A. Thulasi and O. J. Janeesh.
Top Opposition and Regional Leaders Attend Ceremony
Several senior opposition leaders and chief ministers from across the country attended the swearing-in ceremony. Among those present were Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Revanth Reddy, Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
However, Vijay, who currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, did not attend the event. Reports indicated that administrative commitments and security arrangements related to his official schedule may have contributed to his absence.
From Lawyer to Kerala’s Chief Minister
Born in 1964 in Nettoor near Kochi, VD Satheesan has built a long political career rooted in Congress ideology and public service. A six-time MLA from Paravur in Ernakulam district, he previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Kerala Assembly.
Before entering full-time politics, Satheesan practised law at the Kerala High Court for nearly ten years. Known for his organisational skills and sharp legislative interventions, he is considered one of the prominent Congress leaders in the state.
