Kerala CM Oath Ceremony Highlights: After VD Satheesan's swearing-in, cabinet members take oath

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated VD Satheesan on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala and said the Centre would extend all possible support to the newly formed state government in fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ministers in the cabinet are PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoo

VD Satheesan
Ramesh Chennithala
PK Kunhalikutty
Sunny Joseph
K Muraleedharan
Mons Joseph
Shibu Baby John
Anoop Jacob
CP John
AP Anil Kumar
N Samsudheen
PC Vishnunath
Roji M John
Bindu Krishna
M Liju
KM Shaji
PK Basheer
VE Abdul Gafoor
T Siddique
KA Thulasi
OJ Janeesh
 

According to sources, VD Satheesan is expected to retain key portfolios, including Finance and Ports, while senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is likely to handle the Home department along with Vigilance. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph is expected to be allocated the Revenue portfolio.

Along with VD Satheesan, his 20-member Council of Ministers has also been sworn in, marking the first time in nearly six decades that an entire Kerala Cabinet has taken oath together on the same day.

Sunny Joseph, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Mons Joseph were among those sworn in as ministers in VD Satheesan’s cabinet.

UDF ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which won 22 seats in the Assembly elections, will have five MLAs inducted into the VD Satheesan government in Kerala.

VD Satheesan hugged Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after taking oath as the new Chief Minister of Kerala.

Along with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, other Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala -- both reportedly in the race for the chief minister’s post -- were also present on the stage in what appeared to be a show of unity.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP MLA from Nemom, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, were seen sharing the stage at the oath-taking ceremony.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, arrived for the oath-taking ceremony, followed by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, and DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, arrived together shortly after.

VD Satheesan is set to take oath as Kerala Chief Minister shortly.

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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to attend the swearing-in ceremony VD Satheesan. 

Sources told India Today that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay will not attend Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan's oath-taking ceremony, with administrative work and security arrangements linked to his visit being cited as possible reasons for his absence.

VD Satheesan welcomed Rahul Gandhi and other leaders at the airport. 

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has left his residence ahead of the swearing-in of the VD Satheesan-led cabinet. He said he will handle the Home portfolio and focus on improving law and order, while ensuring better governance across Kerala.