Desk Correspondent , Thiruvananthapuram - Senior Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as the 13th chief minister of Kerala on Monday, marking the return of Congress-led UDF (United Democratic Front rule after a decade of Left Front governance. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to Satheesan and his 20-member cabinet at a packed Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The high-profile ceremony was attended by top national leaders, including Congress Mallikarjun and Rahul Gandhi, alongside former chief minister Pinarayi. The transition follows a decisive electoral victory where the UDF swept the assembly polls, securing 102 out of 140 seats and ousting the Vijayan-led LDF administration.
Immediately following the ceremony, the newly formed cabinet held its maiden meeting at the state secretariat to approve a slew of major welfare measures promised under the UDF's "Indira Guarantees." Chief Minister Satheesan announced free rides in state-run KSRTC buses for women starting June 15, ₹3,000 hike in monthly honorariums for ASHA workers, and the formation of a dedicated department for elderly welfare—making Kerala the first Indian state to do so. Additionally, the Cabinet decided to convene the assembly session on May 21 for the swearing-in of MLAs and approved a special investigation team (SIT) to reinvestigate a controversial 2023 assault case involving the former chief minister’s security detail.
The new 21-member coalition Cabinet reflects a strategic distribution among alliance partners, comprising 12 ministers from the Congress, five from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and one each from four smaller allied parties. Prominent leaders taking the oath included Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, and PK Kunhalikutty, with all but two ministers swearing in the name of God amid thunderous cheers from thousands of supporters. While the official gazette detailing specific portfolios is yet to be published, former chief minister Vijayan extended his congratulations to the incoming government, promising constructive opposition support for state welfare activities.
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