VD Satheesan To Take Oath As Kerala CM Tomorrow; Rahul, Kharge Among Top Leaders Attending

Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan and his Council of Ministers will take oath at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning, with the swearing-in ceremony expected to mark the formal beginning of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala.

According to the schedule shared ahead of the ceremony, the Chief Minister-designate and minister-designates are expected to reach the venue at 9.45 am, followed by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at 9.55 am.

The swearing-in ceremony is slated to begin at 10 am and continue till around 10.45 am.

Senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to attend the event.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK

Shivakumar, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are also expected to be present.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is yet to confirm attendance, according to details shared ahead of the ceremony.

FINAL ROUND OF CABINET TALKS UNDERWAY

According to an IANS report, the final round of discussions over cabinet formation continued through Sunday, with the final list of ministers expected to be submitted to the Governor by the end of today.

Intensive consultations among alliance partners and the leadership have been underway since morning.

Congress representative and Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi said discussions were progressing and a final decision on the ministry composition was expected later in the day.

The new administration is expected to have a 21-member cabinet, including the Chief Minister.

The report further mentioned that the Congress is likely to secure 11 ministerial berths, including the Chief Minister’s post.

Senior leaders understood to be nearly finalised for cabinet positions include Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunath, M Liju, Chandy Oommen and Bindu Krishna.

Sources cited by the report indicated that Satheesan is expected to retain the Finance portfolio, while Chennithala may handle the Home department.

The report added that portfolio allocation would be finalised only after formal approval of the cabinet list.

Coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League is likely to receive five ministerial positions in the new government.

Names receiving priority consideration reportedly include PK Kunhalikutty, K M Shaji, N Shamsuddeen and Parakkal Abdulla.

However, the report said internal differences had emerged regarding the possible inclusion of PK Basheer.

KC VENUGOPAL SPEAKS ON CABINET, UDF UNITY

Speaking to news agency ANI in Alappuzha, AICC General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal said the list of ministers would be handed over to the Governor on Sunday evening and described the upcoming ministry as a “capable UDF team”.

“The UDF will field a good team that moves forward in line with the expectations of the people of Keralam,” he said.

Venugopal also said the new government would seriously consider the guarantees announced earlier.

In another interaction, Venugopal said the election results showed that people in Kerala would not accept attempts to create communal divisions.

Referring to criticism targeting the Muslim League, he said repeated attacks were intended to create social tension.

“Within the UDF system, it can move forward only in a way that respects everyone and is acceptable to all,” he said.

SATHEESAN MEETS CARDINAL CLEEMIS

Meanwhile, PTI reported that Satheesan met Cardinal Baselios Cleemis at the Bishop House in Pattom on Sunday as part of his outreach meetings after being named Chief Minister-designate.

Cleemis congratulated Satheesan and expressed confidence that the new government would respect all communities in the state.

“We strongly believe that the government under him will respect all communities in the state,” the Cardinal said.

PTI also reported that Satheesan later headed to the KPCC office, where final discussions with UDF allies regarding ministerial portfolios were continuing ahead of Monday’s ceremony.