V. D. Satheesan and his council of ministers were sworn in at Thiruvananthapuram at 10 am on May 18, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administering the oath of office. Along with the Chief Minister, 20 ministers took oath, while the allocation of portfolios is yet to be officially announced.
The swearing-in ceremony drew nationwide attention, with political observers closely watching the composition and power dynamics of the new cabinet. The first major political signal emerged when Indian Union Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty took oath immediately after the Chief Minister, indicating his elevated position in the cabinet hierarchy. Political circles interpreted the move as a sign that Kunhalikutty would effectively hold the number two position in the government.
The development is being viewed as a setback for senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who had reportedly made strong attempts to emerge as the Chief Ministerial face until the final stages of deliberations. Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal was also believed to have lobbied heavily during the leadership discussions. However, political observers point to the decisive role played by the Muslim League in backing Satheesan’s candidature, ultimately sidelining rival power centres within the Congress.
Reports further suggest that the state car bearing the number two designation may also be allotted to Kunhalikutty, reinforcing perceptions of his political stature within the coalition government. The Indian Union Muslim League, with 22 MLAs in the 102-member UDF bloc, had asserted its growing influence within the alliance during government formation talks. League leaders reportedly argued that a significant number of Congress candidates benefited from the party’s organisational support during the elections.
The cabinet formation process also exposed internal dissatisfaction within the Congress camp. Sources indicate that leaders aligned with Chennithala and Venugopal failed to secure adequate representation in the ministry. Chennithala was notably absent from key discussions held at Satheesan’s residence on May 17 regarding the finalisation of ministerial berths, a move widely interpreted as a sign of discontent.
The swearing-in ceremony itself witnessed an unusually large political presence on the dais despite reports that only the Chief Minister and ministers were expected to be seated there. Among those present were Siddaramaiah, D. K. Shivakumar, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Pinarayi Vijayan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, among several others, giving the event the appearance of a major political gathering.
One of the most discussed moments of the ceremony was the rendering of “Vande Mataram” before the national anthem at the beginning and conclusion of the event. The development sparked sharp political reactions on social media, with supporters hailing it as a strong assertion of nationalist sentiment in Kerala’s political landscape.
The first cabinet meeting was held at 1 pm shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. Political observers noted the seating arrangement during the meeting, where Kunhalikutty was seated next to the Chief Minister while Chennithala occupied a seat alongside other ministers, adding to speculation over the internal hierarchy within the government.
The inclusion of Muslim League leader K. M. Shaji in the cabinet also attracted attention due to his earlier remarks emphasising the importance of religion and community interests in politics. The new government’s composition and internal equations are expected to remain under close political scrutiny in the coming weeks.
