UDF Returns to Power in Kerala with VD Satheesan Set to Take Oath as Chief Minister Today
May 18, 2026 08:40 PM IST

UDF Returns to Power in Kerala with VD Satheesan Set to Take Oath as Chief Minister Today

Desk Correspondent , Thiruvananthapuram - The United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to assume power in Kerala after a decade, with Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan taking the oath of office at 10 AM today at the Central Stadium. The UDF secured a landslide victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member House, where Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 63 seats. Top national leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Telangana, have arrived in the capital to attend the high-profile ceremony.


A 20-member Cabinet will be sworn in alongside Satheesan, marking the formal end of the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) 10-year rule. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala confirmed he will take charge of the Home portfolio, while Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will serve as the Assembly Speaker. The incoming Cabinet features prominent faces from the Congress and its allies, including KPCC chief Sunny Joseph and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty. Following the swearing-in, the new government will convene its first Cabinet meeting to ratify major policy decisions.


The new administration's immediate priority will be implementing the five welfare guarantees announced by Rahul Gandhi during the election campaign. These flagship schemes include free bus travel for women, a ₹1,000 monthly assistance for college-going girls, and an increased welfare pension of ₹3,000. Additionally, the government will launch the ₹25 lakh Oommen Chandy Health Insurance coverage for all families and provide interest-free business loans up to ₹5 lakh. Leaders from the UDF allies have hailed the day as a historic milestone, promising to swiftly fulfill all electoral pledges made to the people.

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