India
-Gaurav Sharma
The Congress-led United Democratic Front has returned to power in Kerala after the 2026 Assembly elections, ending ten years of Left Democratic Front rule. The coalition secured 102 of 140 seats, with Congress winning 63 and the Indian Union Muslim League taking 22. The LDF finished with 35 seats, while the BJP won three constituencies.
Congress leader VD Satheesan is scheduled to take oath as Chief Minister of Kerala at 10 am at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, alongside a full Council of 20 ministers. The ceremony marks the start of the new Kerala UDF government’s term, following the coalition’s decisive electoral mandate.
The Congress-led UDF won the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections with 102 of 140 seats, ending ten years of LDF rule. VD Satheesan will be sworn in as Chief Minister with a 20-member cabinet, including experienced leaders and new representatives.
Kerala UDF government swearing-in details and political significance
On Sunday, VD Satheesan visited Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan and submitted the final list of ministers who will be sworn in with the Chief Minister. Satheesan also formally announced the composition of the next Cabinet, which combines senior figures with first-time ministers to lead the Kerala UDF government.
With Kerala joining the list, Congress now heads four state governments in India. The other Congress administrations are in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. The formation of the Kerala UDF government therefore carries national political weight for the party, given the scale of its victory in the state.
Kerala UDF government cabinet structure and community representation
The new Cabinet under VD Satheesan includes 11 ministers from Congress and five from the IUML. The remaining positions are shared with smaller allies. In total, the Kerala UDF government’s council features 14 first-time ministers, two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community, reflecting an effort to broaden representation.
Several familiar leaders from the previous UDF administration are returning to ministerial roles. Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, A P Anil Kumar and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph are among the senior Congress members named to the Kerala UDF government cabinet, underlining continuity in key positions.
Kerala UDF government ministerial line-up and party-wise allocation
Allied party leaders are also part of the new team. Senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, RSP leader Shibu Baby John, Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob will serve as ministers. Each has previously been a minister in an earlier UDF administration, bringing experience to the Kerala UDF government.
New faces feature prominently from both Congress and IUML. C P John joins the Cabinet, along with IUML leaders N Shamsudheen, K M Shaji, P K Basheer and V E Abdul Gafoor. From Congress, P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, K A Thulasi and O J Janeesh will become first-time ministers in the Kerala UDF government.
| Leader | Party | Role in Kerala UDF government |
|---|---|---|
| VD Satheesan | Congress | Chief Minister |
| Ramesh Chennithala | Congress | Minister |
| Sunny Joseph | Congress | Minister |
| K Muraleedharan | Congress | Minister |
| PC Vishnunadh | Congress | Minister |
| AP Anil Kumar | Congress | Minister |
| Roji M John | Congress | Minister |
| T Siddique | Congress | Minister |
| Bindhu Krishna | Congress | Minister |
| M Liju | Congress | Minister |
| OJ Janeesh | Congress | Minister |
| KA Thulasi | Congress | Minister |
| PK Kunhalikutty | IUML | Minister |
| PK Basheer | IUML | Minister |
| KM Shaji | IUML | Minister |
| N Shamsudheen | IUML | Minister |
| VE Abdul Gafoor | IUML | Minister |
| Mons Joseph | Kerala Congress | Minister |
| Anoop Jacob | Kerala Congress | Minister |
| Shibu Baby John | Revolutionary Socialist Party | Minister |
| CP John | Communist Marxist Party Kerala State Committee | Minister |
Kerala UDF government Assembly posts and leadership remarks
The UDF has finalised key Assembly positions alongside the Cabinet. Senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will become Speaker, while Shanimol Usman is set to be Deputy Speaker. The chief whip will come from Kerala Congress (J), with party chairman P J Joseph expected to announce the choice for the Kerala UDF government soon.
VD Satheesan acknowledged that several senior Congress leaders could not be included, even after the party’s tally of 63 seats, which he described as one of its strongest performances in Kerala. “Let new faces come. There should be opportunity for all,” Satheesan said. Let new faces come. There should be opportunity for all.
Kerala UDF government oath ceremony attendance and wider context
Several national leaders are expected at the Central Stadium for the swearing-in of the Kerala UDF government. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and a number of chief ministers from other states are likely to attend the event, which will draw wide political attention.
Satheesan said former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and IUML leaders are also expected at the ceremony of the Kerala UDF government. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has not yet confirmed participation and may travel later, though Rahul Gandhi had attended Vijay’s own oath-taking earlier this month.
The swearing-in of VD Satheesan and the 20-member Council of Ministers will give formal shape to the Kerala UDF government after its landslide victory. With a mix of experienced politicians and many first-time ministers, the new administration signals a change in leadership style while retaining continuity across key parties in the coalition.
