VD Satheesan Sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister Along With 20-Member Cabinet at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | Current Affairs

V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on 18 May 2026 at a grand ceremony held at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, along with a 20-member Cabinet. The oath was administered by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The new Cabinet includes 14 first-time ministers, two women — Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman — and two ministers from the Scheduled Caste community. Senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attended the ceremony. This marks the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power in Kerala after a decade, following their landslide victory of 102 out of 140 Assembly seats in the April 2026 elections. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was named Speaker and Shanimol Usman as Deputy Speaker.

Background: The UDF unseated the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) after two consecutive terms in office. After 60 years, the full UDF Cabinet took oath together in a single ceremony, which Satheesan described as the fastest Cabinet formation in Kerala's history. Portfolio allocation was to be submitted to the Governor after the swearing-in and published via gazette notification.

Key Points to Remember:

Sworn in as Kerala CM: V.D. Satheesan on 18 May 2026
Venue: Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Oath administered by: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Cabinet strength: 20 ministers + CM = 21 total
First-time ministers: 14
Women ministers: Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman
Speaker: Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
Deputy Speaker: Shanimol Usman
Alliance in power: United Democratic Front (UDF)
UDF seats won: 102 out of 140
Defeated alliance: Left Democratic Front (LDF)
MLAs oath: May 21; Speaker election: May 22
State Budget expected: June 5, 2026
Notable attendees: Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Related Static GK:

Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Kerala Legislature: Unicameral — 140 Assembly seats
Kerala formed: 1 November 1956 (States Reorganisation Act)
UDF full form: United Democratic Front
LDF full form: Left Democratic Front
Congress President: Mallikarjun Kharge