Kerala Political Scene Changes Tomorrow with VD Satheesan as New CM

Tomorrow is set to be a historic and crucial day in Kerala politics as senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan prepares to take oath as the new Chief Minister of the state at 10 a.m. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, where large-scale preparations are currently underway. Along with Satheesan, 11 newly elected MLAs will also be sworn in as ministers in the new cabinet. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has returned to power in Kerala after nearly ten years, marking a major political comeback for the alliance. On Sunday evening, Satheesan met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and formally staked claim to form the government. He also submitted the proposed list of ministers to the Governor for approval. Authorities have made extensive arrangements at the venue, including seating for thousands of supporters, senior political leaders, and dignitaries. Special rain-protection measures and strict security arrangements have also been implemented across Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the event. Several top Congress leaders are expected to attend the ceremony, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge. Invitations have also been sent to Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled and neighboring states. Political attention is also focused on whether C. Joseph Vijay will attend the ceremony, as he has reportedly been invited by Congress leaders. Satheesan confirmed that senior Congress leaders including Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, and Sunny Joseph will be part of the cabinet. Meanwhile, senior MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been chosen as the Assembly Speaker, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker. The initial cabinet includes 12 ministers, including the Chief Minister, though Kerala can have up to 21 ministers. Satheesan acknowledged that many deserving leaders could not be included in the first phase of cabinet formation. He said the party had to consider social balance, regional representation, and coalition equations while finalizing the list. He also hinted that a cabinet expansion could take place after the government is officially formed, leaving room for more MLAs to join the ministry in the future.