CM VD Satheesan leaves Kerala House for first meeting with PM Modi after assuming office
New Delhi, May 26
Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday left from Keralam House in Delhi for his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after assuming office earlier this month.
The meeting comes days after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to power in Keralam, ending a decade-long hiatus. Satheesan took oath as the state's 13th Chief Minister on May 18 at a grand swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The ceremony was attended by thousands of supporters and political leaders, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administering the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan and his council of ministers.
Along with the Chief Minister, 20 ministers were sworn in, including 14 first-time ministers, two women ministers and two representatives from the Scheduled Caste community. The Congress secured 11 ministerial berths in the cabinet, while its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), received five portfolios. Other allies, including Kerala Congress factions, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Communist Marxist Party, were also represented.
The UDF registered a sweeping victory in the Assembly elections held on April 9. Results declared on May 4 showed the alliance winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 35 seats and the BJP won three.
Earlier, on May 20, the Keralam government officially announced the allocation of portfolios among cabinet ministers. Chief Minister Satheesan retained crucial departments, including Finance, Law, Ports, Airports, Railways, Metro Rail and Pollution Control.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala was assigned the Home portfolio along with Vigilance, Fire and Rescue Services and Prisons. K Muraleedharan was given charge of Health and Medical Education, while P K Kunhalikutty will oversee Industries, Commerce and Information Technology.
The new government has indicated that infrastructure development, investment, employment generation and welfare measures will be among its top priorities.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Satheesan retaining Finance, Law, Ports, Airports, Railways, Metro Rail, and Pollution Control — that's a huge load. Hope he can manage it all effectively. But giving Home to Chennithala is interesting, given his experience. Let's see how this cabinet performs.
UDF winning 102 seats is a massive mandate. After 10 years out of power, people have given them a clear chance. Now the real test begins — fulfilling promises and governing well. Infrastructure and jobs are top priorities, so I'm cautiously optimistic. 🙂
Honestly, 20 ministers seems excessive for a state like Kerala. Some of these portfolios could have been consolidated. But at least there's representation for SC community and women, which is important. Hope they deliver more than just photo-ops.
Proud moment for Kerala! VD Satheesan seems like a grounded leader. The swearing-in ceremony at Central Stadium was grand but also inclusive — thousands attended. Now the focus should be on development, especially in healthcare and education, which Keralam is known for. ✨
Interesting that the new CM is meeting PM Modi so early. Politics aside, Kerala needs strong central ties for disaster relief and funding. Hope this isn't just a symbolic meeting — the state has real challenges like unemployment and infrastructure gaps that need addressing.
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.