Ramesh Chennithala took the oath as a cabinet minister in the new Kerala government on Monday [1].
The swearing-in ceremony marks a significant political shift in the state. The United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition has returned to power, ending 10 years of rule by the Left Democratic Front [2].
The event took place at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, where Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan led the proceedings [3]. Chennithala is among 20 ministers who were named to the cabinet and sworn into office on May 18, 2026 [1].
The transition follows a state election victory that allowed the UDF to dismantle the previous administration's decade-long hold on the government [2]. The ceremony was attended by several high-profile figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, as the new administration prepared to assume its official duties [4].
This cabinet formation is the final step in the UDF's transition from an opposition bloc to the governing body of Kerala. The 20-member cabinet [1] is tasked with implementing the coalition's platform after the lengthy period of Left-led governance.
“Ramesh Chennithala took the oath as a cabinet minister in the new Kerala government.”
The installation of the UDF government represents a major electoral realignment in Kerala. By replacing a decade of Left Democratic Front leadership, the new administration under V.D. Satheesan and ministers like Ramesh Chennithala will likely pivot the state's policy priorities and governance style away from the previous regime's framework.
