VD Satheesan was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram [1, 2].
The transition marks a significant political shift in the state, ending 10 years of rule by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) [2].
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan and his 20-member cabinet [1, 3]. The United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition secured a decisive majority in the assembly election, winning 102 seats [4, 1]. In contrast, the LDF won 35 seats [4].
The electoral process concluded with vote counting that began at 8 a.m. on April 9, 2026 [4]. Election officials managed the count across 140 centers located in 43 different locations [4].
Satheesan, a leader of the Congress party, now leads a government that returns the UDF to power after a decade in the opposition [2, 3]. The ceremony at Central Stadium served as the formal commencement of the new administration's tenure following the April 12 reporting of the oath ceremony [4].
“VD Satheesan was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala”
The UDF's landslide victory and the subsequent formation of a 20-member cabinet signal a mandate for a change in governance after 10 years of LDF leadership. By securing 102 seats against the LDF's 35, the new administration possesses a strong legislative majority to implement its policy agenda without significant parliamentary deadlock.
