Senior Congress leader V. D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala during a high-profile ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, marking a major political shift in the southern state after the Congress-led alliance returned to power.

The swearing-in ceremony witnessed the presence of top Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders from the United Democratic Front (UDF) and alliance partners.

Moments after taking oath, Satheesan shared a warm embrace with Rahul Gandhi, while also greeting Kharge and other senior leaders present on the stage. Visuals from the event quickly gained attention across political circles and social media platforms, symbolizing the Congress party’s renewed momentum in Kerala politics.

Alongside Satheesan, several senior leaders were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the new government. Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala took oath as a cabinet minister and was congratulated on stage by Satheesan and Rahul Gandhi after the ceremony.

Senior leaders P. K. Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, K. Muraleedharan and Mons Joseph also took oath as ministers in the newly formed cabinet. The composition of the ministry reflected a balance between Congress veterans, alliance representatives and regional political figures within the UDF coalition.

The formation of the new government comes after an intense political contest in Kerala, where the Congress-led UDF managed to regain public support after years of Left Democratic Front (LDF) dominance. Political analysts view Satheesan’s elevation as part of the Congress party’s broader attempt to project a younger yet experienced leadership structure ahead of future national political battles.

Satheesan, who had served as the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, built his political image around aggressive opposition campaigns on governance, corruption allegations and public welfare issues. His rise within the Congress organization over recent years positioned him as one of the party’s most influential faces in the state.

The presence of Rahul Gandhi at the ceremony also carried political significance given his long-standing electoral connection with Kerala through the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. Congress leaders described the swearing-in ceremony as a “historic moment” for the party and the UDF alliance.

Security arrangements remained tight around the Central Stadium area as thousands of Congress workers and supporters gathered to witness the oath-taking ceremony. Celebrations erupted across several districts of Kerala after Satheesan officially assumed office as Chief Minister.

The new government is expected to soon begin discussions on cabinet portfolio allocation, governance priorities and key administrative decisions as it takes charge of the state administration.

CongressGovernment | Business Upturn

Congress returns to power in Kerala as VD Satheesan takes oath as Chief Minister