#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala leaves from his residence. He is set to take oath as Keralam Minister in the VD Satheesan-led cabinet today.
He said, "I am going to take up the home portfolio. The duty of the Home Minister is to maintain… pic.twitter.com/7YtO1e10TZ

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Telangana Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Siddaramaiah arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to attend the oath-taking ceremony.

The Congress's Kerala impasse was resolved, but it took nine days since the results of the assembly election in the coastal state were declared. It also took the return of the party's master strategist - one who stitched up the UPA coalition in 2004 by walking to the door of her next-door neighbour, Ram Vilas Paswan. Sources told NDTV that this time, Sonia Gandhi had dialled her oldest and most trusted confidante from Kerala, AK Antony.

Sources said Sonia Gandhi was called in to shed light on the puzzle that had the Congress in a bind - with none of the three Chief Ministerial candidates ready to back down.

Read the full story here

VD Satheesan, Not KC Venugopal. Why Congress Picked The Man It Had To

The Congress bit the Kerala chief minister bullet and picked VD Satheesan - the 'people's choice' - over its preferred pick - KC Venugopal - as the head of its new government.

Satheesan, 61, was widely seen as the underdog in this race. Venugopal seemed to tick most, if not all, of the Congress' boxes for this role. He has been credited with helping lead the party to an emphatic win in last month's election.

The new chief minister has the political and electoral authority to match Venugopal.

Read the full story here

The Assembly elections to the 140-member House were held on April 9, with results declared on May 4. The Congress-led UDF won 102 seats, the LDF secured 35, and the BJP won 3.

The result spelt the return of the UDF in Kerala after 10 years, making the state the third Congress-ruled state in the south in recent times.

VD Satheesan (61), who served as the Leader of the Opposition for the last five years, is credited with revitalising the party's grassroots base.

After two days of lobbying and discussions, VD Satheesan handed over the list of 20 ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Sunday evening.

The ministers include senior Congress leaders and former ministers Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, and A P Anil Kumar, as well as KPCC chief Sunny Joseph.

Senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, RSP leader Shibu Baby John, Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob will also be part of the cabinet.

There are 14 new faces in the cabinet, including Chief Minister Satheesan, who is holding a government position for the first time despite being elected from Paravur since 2001.

The cabinet includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community.

New faces in the cabinet include C P John and IUML leaders N Shamsuddin, K M Shaji, P K Basheer, and V E Abdul Gafoor. Congress leaders P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, K A Thulasi, and O J Janeesh are also among the first-time ministers.

VIDEO | Delhi: Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi depart for Thiruvananthapuram to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected UDF government in Kerala.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/FpA0IuTc4i

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2026

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed happiness ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, crediting the day to the huge mandate given by the people of Kerala.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "VD Satheesan is taking oath today, along with other cabinet ministers... It is an unprecedented victory, we are happy because it was such a huge mandate..." https://t.co/NuMmPNlJTb pic.twitter.com/bFRDOWGYHc

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

After what seemed like a lifetime in the political timeline of Kerala, the Congress has chosen VD Satheesan as the state's next Chief Minister.

Satheesan's elevation is, first and foremost, a political lesson of immense significance for every aspirant to high office across parties. The establishment may have had its preferences. The arithmetic within the system may have appeared to favour others. Yet, what ultimately prevailed was sustained political capital earned through relentless groundwork, public credibility, and organic acceptability among cadres and citizens alike.

That is why this is not just Satheesan's victory. It is also KC Venugopal's defeat. More importantly, it is a major face loss for Rahul Gandhi.

Read Rasheed Kidwai's opinion

Preparations at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium include a massive stage for the oath-taking ceremony.

Workers are putting up temporary rain shelters and setting up seating for thousands of party workers, national political figures, and local dignitaries.

Tight security arrangements have been put in place across Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the high-profile event.

Special traffic arrangements have also been made in view of the large number of VIPs and UDF supporters expected to arrive in the city.

A decade after losing power, the UDF is set to form the next government in Kerala, with Congress leader VD Satheesan taking over as the chief minister. 

Along with Satheesan, the full Cabinet comprising 20 ministers is also to be sworn in at an event to be held at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.