V D Satheesan announces Kerala Cabinet ahead of swearing-in

Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan announced his Cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, naming senior Congress leaders including Ramesh Chennithala and K Muraleedharan. The UDF also finalised the Speaker and Deputy Speaker posts after alliance discussions on social and regional balance

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan on Sunday announced his ministerial team ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in the state.

Satheesan said the list of ministers had been finalised after discussions among alliance leaders, taking into account social and regional balance in the coalition.

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He said senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Sunny Joseph would be inducted into the Cabinet as ministers.

The UDF also decided to appoint senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker.

Satheesan said many deserving leaders could not be accommodated in the Cabinet despite the Congress securing 63 seats, describing it as one of the party’s biggest victories in the state.

“There are many deserving leaders both within and outside the list. But a party like the Congress has to consider social balance, regional representation and several other factors while taking such decisions,” he said.

He added that discussions on the allocation of portfolios among coalition partners were almost complete, with only minor corrections remaining.

The final list would be formally submitted to the Governor and later notified through an official gazette after approval.