Chief minister-designate V D Satheesan has unveiled a 21-member UDF cabinet on Sunday evening, setting the stage for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony. In a move marking a historic shift, the entire ministry is scheduled to take the oath of office simultaneously, an event that has not occurred for a full UDF cabinet in nearly six decades.
Cabinet Composition and Representation
The new ministry is characterized by a significant influx of new leadership, with 14 of the 21 ministers—including Satheesan himself—serving as first-timers. The composition also includes two women and two members from the Scheduled Caste community.
The distribution of ministerial berths is led by the Congress party, which secured 11 positions in addition to the chief minister’s post. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) follows with five allotted positions.
Other coalition partners including the Kerala Congress (Joseph), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kerala Congress (Jacob), and the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) have each been granted one berth.
Internal Dynamics and Political Tensions
While Satheesan defended the list by citing social and regional balance and the limited availability of berths for Congress despite having 63 MLAs, reports suggest internal friction. Sources indicate that nominees backed by K C Venugopal secured a prominent presence and significant influence over portfolio allocations.
This shift reportedly left several MLAs aligned with Satheesan outside the cabinet and affected some of the chief minister-designate’s own preferences for portfolio distribution. The inclusion of O J Janeesh and K A Thulasi emerged as unexpected developments, while figures such as Shanimol Usman, Anwar Sadath, V T Balram, and Chandy Oommen reportedly failed to secure positions despite late-stage consideration.
Expected Portfolio Allocations
Portfolio discussions continued late into Sunday, with several key assignments likely to be finalized. V D Satheesan is likely to retain Finance, Law, and Ports, while Ramesh Chennithala may be assigned Home, and Vigilance.
Other expected allocations include:
- Sunny Joseph: Revenue
- A P Anilkumar: Power
- P C Vishnunadh: Tourism and Culture
- M Lijju: Excise and Cooperation
- Bindu Krishna: Women and Child Development
- T Siddique: Forest
- K A Thulasi: Backward Class Development
- O J Janeesh: Sports and Youth Affairs
The assignment of the Health and Devaswom portfolio to K Muraleedharan reportedly followed significant friction. Sources state Muraleedharan was initially offered the Power portfolio, but this was later withdrawn following pressure from the Venugopal camp, leading Muraleedharan to protest and reportedly threaten to skip the ceremony.
Ally Portfolios and Appointments
Allocations for coalition partners remain partially undecided. Mons Joseph of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) is expected to handle Water Resources and Irrigation, while C P John of the CMP is likely to be allotted Transport.
Other developments include the appointment of Apu John Joseph as chief whip for the Kerala Congress (Joseph). Meanwhile, Anoop Jacob has reportedly sought Food and Civil Supplies, though the Congress leadership has suggested he may share his cabinet berth with Mani C Kappan on a term basis.
Tensions persist regarding Water Resources and Irrigation, as Shibu Baby John of the RSP has also reportedly staked a claim to that specific portfolio.
Legislative Leadership
Alongside the cabinet announcement, Satheesan confirmed the appointments for the legislative leadership. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will serve as the Speaker, and Shanimol Usman has been named the Deputy Speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many first-time ministers are included in the new UDF cabinet?
Of the 21 ministers, 14 are first-timers, including Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan.
Which parties are part of the UDF cabinet and how many berths did they receive?
Congress secured 11 berths (plus the CM’s post), IUML received five, and the Kerala Congress (Joseph), RSP, Kerala Congress (Jacob), and CMP received one berth each.
Who has been appointed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker?
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will be the Speaker and Shanimol Usman will be the Deputy Speaker.
How will the balance of power between the chief minister and party leadership affect the new government’s initial priorities?
