VD Satheesan Sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister, UDF Returns to Power After 10 Years
A major political shift has taken place in Kerala as V. D. Satheesan officially took oath as the state’s new Chief Minister, marking the return of the United Democratic Front to power after a decade.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan and his 20-member cabinet during a high-profile ceremony attended by senior Congress leaders and chief ministers from several states.
Top leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and K. C. Venugopal were present at the event. Moments showing Rahul Gandhi congratulating Satheesan with a hug quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Born near Kochi in 1964, Satheesan began his political journey through student politics before rising through the ranks of the Youth Congress. He later became Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and emerged as one of the strongest faces against the Left government. In the 2026 elections, he won the Paravur seat for a record sixth consecutive time.
The new cabinet includes senior leaders such as Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, and Sunny Joseph, along with members of the Indian Union Muslim League.
The government has also promised to implement major election guarantees, including free bus travel for women, monthly financial support for female college students, increased social pensions, expanded health insurance coverage, and interest-free loans for small businesses.
