Kerala: Kerala Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan on Sunday announced his 21-member Cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the state.
Addressing a press conference, Satheesan said the oath-taking ceremony would be held at 10 am on Monday. He highlighted that, after nearly six decades, the entire UDF Cabinet would take oath together. The Chief Minister-designate confirmed that the alliance had already submitted the list of 20 ministers to the Governor and added that, including himself, a total of 21 ministers would be sworn in.
Satheesan stated that the Cabinet list was finalised after extensive discussions among alliance leaders and with the approval of the Congress high command. He said the coalition carefully considered social balance and regional representation while selecting ministers, even though several deserving leaders could not be accommodated.
“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.
The Indian National Congress secured 63 seats in the Assembly elections, and Satheesan described the result as one of the party’s biggest victories in Kerala.
The Congress leaders included in the Cabinet are VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, Bindhu Krishna, A P Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunadh, M Liju, Roji M John, T Siddique, OJ Janeesh and KA Thulasi.
The ministers from the Indian Union Muslim League include PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Shamsudeen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.
Other ministers in the Cabinet are Mons Joseph from Kerala Congress, Shibu Baby John from RSP, Anoop Jacob from Kerala Congress (Jacob), and CP John from CMP.
Satheesan also announced that senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan would become Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman would serve as Deputy Speaker.
Senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
