M Liju: M Liju (46), another new face in the Cabinet, won from the Kayamkulam constituency, marking his first electoral victory in a political career spanning more than two decades. Though he has held various party positions, including KPCC general secretary (organisation), Liju had lost in earlier elections.

OJ Janeesh: OJ Janeesh (37) is the youngest minister in the Cabinet. His inclusion came as a surprise, as he became the Youth Congress state president only last year. He won from the Kodungallur constituency in Thrissur district. 

N Shamsudheen: N Shamsudheen (56) has been representing the Mannarkkad constituency in Palakkad for a fourth term. He is a key IUML leader in the district, known for his grassroots connect and acceptability among supporters of various UDF parties.

KA Thulasi: KA Thulasi (52), who represents the Kongad (SC) constituency, is the wife of Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan and a former History professor at NSS College, Nenmara. She has held various positions in the KPCC and brings organisational experience to the Cabinet.

T Siddique: T Siddique (51) represents the Kalpetta constituency in Wayanad district. A lawyer by profession, he is the sole Muslim minister from the Congress party in the cabinet. He has served as Youth Congress state president, KPCC general secretary and KPCC vice president. He won the Kalpetta seat for the second time in 2026 Assembly polls.

KM Shaji: KM Shaji (55), an IUML leader representing the Vengara seat in the assembly, is known for his fiery speeches. He has been contesting elections since 2006, securing three victories and suffering two defeats. He has also courted controversy over remarks made in his speeches. He was disqualified as an MLA by the Kerala High Court over a religious appeal during the 2016 election campaign, but the Supreme Court later stayed the order.

VE Abdul Gafoor: VE Abdul Gafoor (49), son of IUML stalwart V K Ebrahimkunju, was a surprise inclusion in the Cabinet. He defeated CPI(M) leader and Industries Minister in the previous Left government, P Rajeev, from the Kalamassery seat. Gafoor had earlier lost to Rajeev in the 2021 election. His entry is seen as crucial for strengthening the IUML's presence in central Kerala.

PK Basheer: PK Basheer (66), son of late IUML stalwart P Sethi Haji, has been representing the Ernad constituency in Malappuram district for a fourth term. It is the first time he has been inducted into the Cabinet. He is a popular face in the IUML and had actively campaigned for a ministerial berth.

PC Vishnunadh: PC Vishnunadh (48) represents the Kundara constituency in Kollam. He has been active in organisational roles in the Congress since his youth. He has served as KSU president, Youth Congress president, AICC secretary and KPCC working president. He was first elected from the Chengannur seat in 2006 before moving to Kundara in 2021.

Roji M John: One of the young faces in the UDF cabinet, Roji M John (43), holds an M Phil degree and has been representing Angamaly constituency since 2021. A former NSUI president and JNU alumnus, he was a key voice in the 2021-2026 Assembly. A fresh face in the cabinet, he is expected to be given an important portfolio.

Bindu Krishna: A prominent Congress leader, Bindu Krishna (53), was elected to the Assembly for the first time from Kollam after multiple unsuccessful attempts. She belongs to the numerically strong Ezhava community and has held various organisational roles in the Congress, including positions in the Mahila Congress, AICC and KPCC.

Congratulations to Shri VD Satheesan Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam. My best wishes for his tenure. The Central Government assures all possible support for the newly formed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspirations of the people.@vdsatheesan

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2026

The Kerala MLAs are scheduled to take oath on May 21, followed by the election of the Assembly Speaker on May 22.

The Governor's policy address is scheduled for May 29, and the state budget is likely to be presented by June 5.

All eyes are on the first Cabinet decisions, as the UDF had promised five key guarantees - free KSRTC bus travel for women, a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for girl students in colleges, an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000, health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh per household, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for young entrepreneurs.

Ahead of taking oath, Chief Minister VD Satheesan had promised to increase the honorariums of ASHA workers once the UDF government is formed.

On cabinet decisions, he said announcements would be made soon after the first Cabinet meeting. "Whatever we promised will be implemented. We have come here to realise the aspirations of the people," he said.

VIDEO | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: A child climbs onto the stage and greets Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the oath-taking ceremony continues.
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/5K4Z7MZuHW

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

Congress: Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar, Sunny Joseph, PC Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, KA Thulasi, M Liju and OJ Janeesh

IUML: PK Kunhalikutty, N Shamsuddin, KM Shaji, PK Basheer and VE Abdul Gafoor

RSP: Shibu Baby John

Kerala Congress: Mons Joseph

Kerala Congress (Jacob): Anoop Jacob

CMP: CP John

The Cabinet includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community. It has 14 first-time faces.

Congress - 11 ministers

IUML - 5 ministers

Kerala Congress (Joseph) - 1 minister

Kerala Congress (Jacob) - 1 minister

Revolutionary Socialist Party - 1 minister

Communist Marxist Party - 1 minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: KPCC President Sunny Joseph takes oath as cabinet minister in the Keralam government led by VD Satheesan
(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/2olzC0skOF

— IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram: PK Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan and Mons Joseph take oath as cabinet ministers in the Keralam government led by VD Satheesan
(Source: PRD pic.twitter.com/PwgZ7VuNwO

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala takes oath as cabinet minister in the Keralam government led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan
(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/gIRqkqvWox

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

The Cantonment House and Cliff House are hardly three kilometres apart in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. But for VD Satheesan, who is poised to be Kerala's 13th chief minister, that short drive carries the story of one of the sharpest political turnarounds in recent politics.

Cantonment House, the official residence of Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, has often housed leaders waiting for another chance at power. Cliff House, the official residence of the chief minister, represents the centre of political authority in the state. The distance between the two is small on the map. Politically, however, it can take years to cross.

When the Congress-led UDF was decimated in 2021, few imagined Satheesan would be the man to make that journey.

Read the full story here

Congress MLA VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala. He was administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: Congress MLA Bindu Krishna is set to take oath today as a Cabinet Minister
Congress MLA Bindu Krishna says, "Actually, I'm very happy and proud to be a minister of Kerala. Thank God, thank Congress party and thank the people of Kollam assembly who… pic.twitter.com/SlSfXhN286

— IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: Preparations are underway at the Central Stadium as V. D. Satheesan is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Keralam today. A large number of people have gathered at the venue ahead of the swearing-in ceremony pic.twitter.com/qVFKCi5DAt

— IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026

Even as Kerala prepares for the swearing in of VD Satheesan as the Chief Minister of the state on Monday, one prominent Congress leader will be missing from the high profile event in Thiruvananthapuram would be the flamboyant local MP Shashi Tharoor.

But if recent political developments are any indication, Tharoor's absence from the ceremony is unlikely to diminish his growing visibility within the Congress and Kerala politics.

In a characteristically elegant social media post on Friday on X, Tharoor expressed regret over missing the occasion, saying he would be in Boston to deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony of his alma mater, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

#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.