CM-elect Satheesan announces Kerala Cabinet, 21 ministers to take oath tomorrow

Kerala Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan on Sunday announced his 21-member Cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in the state.

Addressing a press conference, Satheesan said the oath-taking ceremony would take place at 10 am and noted that, after six decades, an entire UDF Cabinet would take oath together. He said the alliance had submitted the list of 20 ministers to the Governor and added that, including himself, 21 ministers would take oath on Monday.

Satheesan said the Cabinet list was finalised after discussions among alliance leaders and with the approval of the Congress high command. He said the coalition considered social and regional balance while selecting ministers, adding that many deserving leaders could not be accommodated despite their eligibility.

“There are many deserving leaders both within and outside the list. But a party like the Congress has to consider social balance, regional representation and several other factors while taking such decisions,” he said.

The Congress secured 63 seats in the Assembly elections, and Satheesan described the result as one of the party’s biggest victories in Kerala.

The Congress nominees in the Cabinet are VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, Bindhu Krishna, A P Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, M Liju, Roji M John, T Siddique, OJ Janeesh and KA Thulasi.

The IUML ministers in the Cabinet are PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Shamsudeen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.

The other ministers are Mons Joseph from Kerala Congress, Shibu Baby John from RSP, Anoop Jacob from Kerala Congress (Jacob), and CP John from CMP.

Satheesan also announced that senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan would become the Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman would serve as Deputy Speaker.

He said discussions on portfolio allocation among alliance partners were almost complete and only minor corrections remained. He added that the final list would be formally submitted to the Governor and later notified through an official gazette after approval.

Senior Congress leaders expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony include Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are also expected to participate.

On the possible participation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Satheesan said there was no confirmation yet.

- Ends