VD Satheesan Takes Oath As Keralam Chief Minister; Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka Present

Thiruvananthapuram: VD Satheesan, who was chosen by the Congress nine days after the Keralam Assembly election results were declared, on Monday took oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, formally marking the United Democratic Front's return to power in the state after a decade.

Who took the oath?

Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Monday administered the oath of office to V D Satheesan and his 20-member Cabinet, formally marking the United Democratic Front's return to power in the state after a decade.

#WATCH | Congress leader VD Satheesan takes oath as Chief Minister of Keralam at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram

(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/MKCPgnpO3F

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala took oath as cabinet minister in the Keralam government.

#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

Did VD Satheesan greet Congress leaders after oath ceremony?

After taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam, VD Satheesan and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi shared a warm hug.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: VD Satheesan and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi share a hug after Satheesan took oath as Chief Minister of Keralam

(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/IJPSyjepjo

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

New Chief Minister of Keralam VD Satheesan greeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders present on the stage after taking oath.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: VD Satheesan greets party president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders present on the stage after taking oath as Chief Minister of Keralam

(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/Cxk3ZfJY1u

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

After taking the oath, the 61-year-old Chief Minister went across the stage to greet the Congress leaders, who had come to attend the oath ceremony. Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shook hands with the incoming Chief Minister.

Who attended VD Satheesan's oath ceremony?

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who represents Wayanad in parliament, and Chief Ministers of Congress ruled states, attended the swearing-in ceremony.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar arrives at the Central Stadium for the swearing-in ceremony of the Keralam government

(Source: PRD) pic.twitter.com/AyiCF5EnYT

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026

How many ministers will there be in the new cabinet?

Alongside Satheesan, a 20-member Cabinet also took the oath. On Sunday, VD Satheesan had handed over the final list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Along with senior leaders, young faces have also got a place in the cabinet.

How many seats did IUML get?

UDF's ally IUML has been given 5 seats in the cabinet. The party has said that after the completion of half the tenure of the government, senior leader Parakkal Abdullah will also be made a minister.