Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (UNI) Amid roaring cheers, emotional celebrations, and an unprecedented public turnout at the Central Stadium, V D Satheesan took oath on Monday as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala, formally marking the return of the United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after a decade.
With thousands of supporters chanting slogans and waving party flags, Satheesan began the oath with the words, “Vadassery Damodara Menon Satheesan alias I…,” before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the packed swearing-in venue. Satheesan took the oath in the name of God as the stadium erupted in applause, slogans, and celebrations.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the venue and witnessed the swearing-in from the main stage.
The event was also attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was also among the prominent leaders present.
The grand ceremony at the overflowing Central Stadium witnessed scenes rarely seen in Kerala politics in recent years, with the oath-taking function turning into a massive public gathering.
The event was attended by senior Congress leaders from across the country, Chief Ministers from Congress-ruled states, leaders of allied parties, opposition leaders, cultural figures, and tens of thousands of UDF workers and supporters who thronged the capital city from different districts.
Along with Satheesan, the 20-member Council of Ministers of the new UDF government also assumed office. The ministry was formed from the Team UDF alliance that secured victory in the Assembly election and now commands the support of 102 MLAs in the Kerala Assembly.
Muslim League national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty was the second leader to take the oath. He too took the oath in the name of God. Senior Congress leader and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala was sworn in immediately afterwards. KPCC president Sunny Joseph took the oath as the fourth minister in the ceremony.
Veteran Congress leader K Muraleedharan and Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph followed next. Shibu Baby John made a solemn affirmation while taking the oath. One after another, ministers of the new UDF cabinet were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Arlekar amid loud cheers from party workers gathered inside and outside the stadium premises.
The swearing-in ceremony was marked by extraordinary public enthusiasm. Huge crowds gathered at the state capital, creating a festive political atmosphere across Thiruvananthapuram. Roads leading to the Central Stadium witnessed heavy movement of UDF workers carrying flags, banners, and posters welcoming the new government.
The return of the UDF government after ten years transformed the oath-taking ceremony into what party leaders described as a “people’s celebration.” The enormous turnout was widely seen as a continuation of the mass public mobilisation that had emerged during the election campaign projecting V D Satheesan as Chief Minister.
Thousands of supporters who had campaigned across Kerala for the UDF victory reached the capital city to witness the historic transition of power. The Central Stadium and surrounding areas had turned into a sea of humanity as people struggled to gain entry into the packed venue.
The overwhelming rush created major crowd-management challenges inside the stadium. Such was the scale of the turnout that even newly elected MLAs, senior party leaders, and organisers reportedly found it difficult to secure seating arrangements within the designated areas.
Rows reserved for VVIP guests and distinguished invitees witnessed heavy crowding after enthusiastic workers surged forward and occupied several front-row seats. The situation led to confusion inside parts of the venue as organisers and police personnel attempted to manage the massive gathering.
Despite the heavy rush, the atmosphere remained celebratory throughout the evening, with loud cheers greeting every leader who arrived at the venue and every minister who took the oath.
Several top national leaders attended the ceremony, underlining the political significance of the UDF’s return to power in Kerala.
Outgoing Chief Minister and present Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan attended the ceremony, marking the formal transfer of power between the LDF and the UDF governments. Indian union Muslim League state president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar were also present at the function.
Prominent personalities from Kerala’s literary, cultural, and social spheres attended the event as invited guests, adding to the grandeur of the occasion.
The oath-taking ceremony concluded amid loud slogans hailing the new Chief Minister and the newly sworn-in UDF government. The massive public participation at the venue reflected the high political expectations surrounding the new administration led by V D Satheesan.
UNI DS RSA