V D Satheesan took the oath of office and secrecy as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday in Thiruvananthapuram [1, 4].
The transition marks a significant political shift in the state. The victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 2026 Assembly elections [3] ends a 10-year period of rule by the Left Democratic Front [2].
Satheesan led the ceremony where a 20-member cabinet was sworn in [4]. This group formally commences the new UDF government, which seeks to implement its mandate following the recent electoral success [1, 2]. The cabinet includes representatives from the coalition's partner parties, including the Indian Union Muslim League [4].
The ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram served as the official start of the administration's tenure [4]. The UDF return to power follows a decade of opposition to the previous Left-led government [2, 3].
While some early reports indicated that the final decision for the chief minister post was still pending, official records and broadcasts confirm Satheesan has already taken the oath [1, 2, 4].
“V D Satheesan took the oath of office and secrecy as the Chief Minister of Kerala”
The return of the UDF after a decade signifies a major rejection of the Left Democratic Front's long-term governance model in Kerala. By installing a 20-member cabinet, Satheesan is establishing a broad coalition government that must now balance the interests of the Congress party and the IUML to maintain stability and deliver on the promises of the 2026 campaign.
