Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (UNI) The new Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government led by V. D. Satheesan will assume office, with a 21-member Cabinet scheduled to take oath at 10 am at the Central Stadium here on Monday.
Elaborate arrangements have been made at the venue, including a massive pandal capable of accommodating around 10,000 people.
Large LED screens have also been installed at multiple locations in the city for the public to watch the ceremony live. Heavy security and traffic regulations have been put in place in and around the stadium from early morning onwards.
Senior Congress leaders, Chief Ministers from Congress-ruled states and leaders from various political parties are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected at the event. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar are also likely to attend.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was invited, though his participation had not been confirmed. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said BJP MLAs and NDA leaders in Kerala would also attend after Satheesan personally invited him.
Of the 21 ministers, including the Chief Minister, 14 are first-time ministers. Satheesan handed over the final list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday. Portfolio details will be formally submitted to the Governor after the swearing-in ceremony.
The Cabinet includes two women ministers. The Congress will have 12 members in the ministry, including the Chief Minister. The ministers are Ramesh Chennithala, P. K. Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, K. Muraleedharan, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, C. P. John, A. P. Anil Kumar, N. Shamsudheen, P. C. Vishnunath, Roji M. John, Bindu Krishna, M. Liju, T. Siddique, K. M. Shaji, P. K. Basheer, V. E. Abdul Gafoor, K. A. Thulasi and O. J. Janeesh. Six first-time MLAs, including Youth Congress president O. J. Janeesh, are part of the ministry.
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will become Speaker, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker. The Chief Whip post has been allotted to Kerala Congress, with Apu John Joseph likely to assume the position.
The Indian union Muslim League (IUML) has secured five Cabinet berths. The party announced that after two-and-a-half years, Kuttiady MLA Parakkal Abdulla will be inducted into the ministry under a rotational arrangement, though the minister to be replaced has not yet been decided. A similar rotational understanding has reportedly been reached between Anoop Jacob and Mani C. Kappan among smaller allies, with Anoop Jacob expected to serve in the first term.
Among the portfolios under discussion, Satheesan is expected to handle Finance, Law, Ports and General Administration, while Chennithala is likely to get Home and Vigilance. Sunny Joseph may handle Revenue, and K. Muraleedharan is expected to get Health and Devaswom. M. Liju is likely to get Excise, K. A. Thulasi Scheduled Caste and Backward Welfare, and Bindu Krishna Women and Child Welfare.
There are also indications that T. Siddique may be given Forest, P. C. Vishnunath Tourism and Culture, Roji M. John Higher Education, and O. J. Janeesh Youth Welfare, though official confirmation is awaited. Among the allies, P. K. Kunhalikutty is expected to retain Industries and IT, Mons Joseph may get Water Resources, and C. P. John Transport. Final decisions on some portfolios are yet to be taken.
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