Vijay invited to Kerala CM-designate VD Satheesan's oath event

Thiruvananthapuram,UPDATED: May 15, 2026 20:44 IST

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has been invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Kerala's CM-designate VD Satheesan, sources within the Congress party said on Friday. Notably, the Congress's support proved crucial in the formation of Vijay's government after his party, the TVK, fell short of the majority mark by 10 seats in the Assembly elections held in Tamil Nadu last month.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had attended the leader's swearing-in ceremony in Chennai last week. The Congress is now set to lead a coalition government in Kerala. On Thursday, May 14, Satheesan was named by the party high command as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Kerala. His oath-taking ceremony as CM is set to be held on May 18.

Further details about the event will be formally announced once the number of attendees are finalised, Congress sources said. Invitation has also been extended to senior Congress leader and CM of Kerala's neighbouring Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, they added.

CONGRESS-TVK BONHOMIE

Satheesan's oath-taking is slated to take place just over a week after Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu's CM on May 10. The Governor's nod for government formation in Tamil Nadu was only obtained after the actor-turned-politician managed to secure the support from the Congress (5), the Indian Union Muslim League (2), Communist Party of India (2), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (2) for a post-poll alliance.

Shortly after his swearing-in in Chennai, Vijay shot a selfie video with his ministers and Rahul Gandhi, before turning the camera to include the sea of his supporters in the frame.

THAROOR TO SKIP SATHEESAN'S OATH

Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor, has announced that he will be skipping Satheesan's swearing-in ceremony as he will be in the US to attend events at his alma mater.

"I'm sorry to be missing the swearing-in ceremony of my Congress colleague and new CM of Kerala VD Satheesan. I am in Boston this weekend to deliver the Commencement address at the graduation ceremony of my alma mater, the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University — and also to participate in the 50th anniversary reunion of my graduating class," he said in a post on X.

Tharoor has had a rocky relationship with the Congress high command in recent years, with periodic tensions over his public remarks, his stance on the BJP government and internal party dynamics. As of mid-2026, he has acknowledged differences of opinion with some sections of the party leadership.

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