V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday, May 18, 2026 [1].

The ceremony marks a significant political shift in the state, as the United Democratic Front (UDF) returns to power after 10 years [3] of rule by the Left Democratic Front [4].

The swearing-in took place at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram [1, 2]. Satheesan, a senior leader of the Congress party, took the oath of office alongside a UDF cabinet consisting of 20 members [2].

High-ranking Congress leaders attended the event to support the new administration. The guest list included Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi [1, 2]. The gathering at the stadium served as the formal transition of power following a decisive victory for the UDF in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections [5].

The transition ends a decade of governance by the Left Democratic Front. This change in leadership follows a period of political consolidation for the Congress-led coalition, which sought to regain control of the state administration [5].

The event was broadcast live, highlighting the scale of the public gathering at the Central Stadium. The appointment of Satheesan and his 20-member cabinet [2] establishes the executive framework for the new legislative term.

“V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday, May 18, 2026.”

The return of the UDF after a ten-year hiatus signals a major electoral swing in Kerala's political landscape. By replacing the Left Democratic Front, the new administration under V.D. Satheesan will likely pivot state policy away from the previous decade's ideological framework, reflecting the voters' desire for a change in governance and leadership.