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Last edited by CommonsDelinker (talk | contribs) 29 hours ago. (Update) |
 | |
| Date | May 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:15 a.m. (IST) |
| Venue | Central Stadium |
| Location | Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India |
| Coordinates | 8°29′49″N 76°57′03″E / 8.49694°N 76.95083°E |
| Type | Oath of office |
| Organised by | Government of Kerala |
| Participants | V. D. Satheesan (Assuming office as Chief Minister of Kerala) Rajendra Arlekar (Administering oath as Governor of Kerala) |
| Outcome | Formation of the United Democratic Front government in Kerala |
The oath of office ceremony of V. D. Satheesan, the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala, was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on 18 May 2026.[1] Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Satheesan proceeded to the Government Secretariat, where he assumed charge in his ministerial chamber. Shortly after taking office, he chaired the first meeting of his newly formed Cabinet.[2][3]
Background
editFollowing the legislative election on 9 April 2026, V. D. Satheesan's United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged as the largest political alliance in Kerala, securing a landslide victory with 102 assembly seats in the 16th Legislative Assembly.[4] Following the elections, Satheesan was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, paving the way for him to form the next government.[5]
In the run-up to the official swearing-in ceremony, a series of high-level coalition meetings took place at the Cantonment House in Thiruvananthapuram to finalize the distribution of portfolios and determine the members of Satheesan's incoming cabinet.[6] Satheesan subsequently met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to formally stake his claim to form the government.[7]
Ceremony
editThe formal oath of office ceremony of V. D. Satheesan, as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala, was held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on 18 May 2026.[1] Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Satheesan proceeded to the State Secretariat, where he officially assumed charge in his ministerial chamber.[2] He subsequently chaired the first meeting of his newly formed Cabinet, which approved immediate welfare initiatives including free bus travel for women on KSRTC buses and a financial white paper.[3]
Invitees
editThe swearing-in ceremony at the Central Stadium was attended by a wide array of high-profile political figures from across the country, spanning different party lines, as well as thousands of alliance workers.[8] Notable attendees included senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (who represents Wayanad in parliament), alongside Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.[8]
The event also featured a prominent presence from outgoing state leadership and opposing parties, including former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party like Rajeev Chandrasekhar.[8] Senior UDF alliance cabinet inductees, including Ramesh Chennithala and K. C. Venugopal, were also seated on stage during the official proceedings.[8]
References
edit- 1 2 "V.D. Satheesan sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala". The Hindu. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
Senior Congress leader V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala along with 20 Ministers at a ceremony held at a packed Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (May 18, 2026). Mr. Satheesan, who succeeds CPI(M)'s Pinarayi Vijayan as the Chief Minister, is also the 13th person to hold the post.
- 1 2 "CM Satheesan assumes office at Secretariat after swearing-in". Awaz The Voice. PTI. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan assumed office at the State Secretariat here on Monday after being sworn in as the head of the Kerala government. After the tea gathering at Lok Bhavan, Satheesan reached the Secretariat and took charge in his chamber... He is expected to chair the first Cabinet meeting soon.
- 1 2 Bhoopesh, N.K. (18 May 2026). "In First Cabinet Meeting, Satheesan Promises Welfare Push, White Paper On Finance". Outlook India. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
The V. D. Satheesan government, sworn in on May 18, got off to an expected start by announcing welfare measures promised in its manifesto. ... The first Cabinet meeting also decided to increase the honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 3,000 and that of Anganwadi teachers and cooking staff by Rs 1,000.
- ↑ "Kerala Election Results 2026 Highlights: Congress-Led UDF Sweeps Kerala With 102 Seats, LDF Wins 35". NDTV. PTI. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
The Congress-led UDF swept aside a decade of Left rule under Pinarayi Vijayan with a decisive Assembly victory... The UDF won 102 seats, while the CPI(M)-headed LDF netted 35 seats, according to Election Commission data on counting of votes for 140 constituencies. Polling for the Assembly elections was held on April 9.
- ↑ "V.D. Satheesan chosen as leader of Congress Legislature Party in Kerala". The Hindu. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
The newly elected Congress MLAs unanimously chose V.D. Satheesan as the leader of the legislature party, clearing the decks for him to stake claim to form the next government with the backing of UDF allies.
- ↑ "Kerala UDF finalises cabinet spots: Satheesan holds final round of talks at Cantonment House". Onmanorama. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
A series of bilateral talks were held at the Cantonment House between Congress leader V.D. Satheesan and key UDF allies, including the IUML and Kerala Congress, to iron out the portfolio allocations for the incoming ministry.
- ↑ "VD Satheesan meets Kerala Governor to stake claim to form UDF government". The News Minute. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
The newly elected Congress Legislature party leader and Kerala Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan... met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake a claim to form the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government. The UDF secured a decisive majority in the assembly elections, winning 102 out of 140 seats.
- 1 2 3 4 "VD Satheesan Takes Oath As Kerala Chief Minister With 20-Member Cabinet". NDTV. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra... attended the swearing-in ceremony. After the oath, the 61-year-old Chief Minister went across the stage to greet the Congress Chief Ministers who had come to attend... Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also on stage and so was BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar.