Rahul Gandhi congratulates VD Satheesan on taking oath as Keralam CM; thanks KC Venugopal for leading campaign from frontlines
Thiruvananthapuram, May 18
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the new government in Keralam would be guided by the voice of the people, as he congratulated Chief Minister VD Satheesan and his Cabinet after their swearing-in ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a post shared on X, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) victory reflected the mandate of the people and expressed confidence in the new administration.
"The people of Keralam fought for this government. Their voice will guide it. Warm congratulations to V.D. Satheesan ji and the entire cabinet, who will now represent the voice of every Keralite," he wrote.
He also thanked Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal for leading the campaign, adding that the victory belonged to party workers and supporters across the state.
"Thanks to K.C. Venugopal ji, who led this campaign from the frontlines. This victory belongs to every UDF worker and digital warrior who sacrificed tirelessly during this campaign. The work begins now," the post added.
Earlier in the day, 20 ministers took oath as part of the new Satheesan-led Cabinet at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers. The ceremony concluded with the playing of Vande Mataram followed by the National Anthem.
The 20-member Cabinet who sworn in, includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, along with Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor.
Other ministers, including Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi and O J Janeesh, also took the oath.
The swearing-in marked the return of the Congress-led UDF to power after defeating the LDF in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The UDF secured a landslide victory in the elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 63 seats, while the IUML won 22 seats. The LDF was reduced to 35 seats, while the BJP secured three constituencies.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see Rahul Gandhi acknowledging KC Venugopal's efforts. The digital warriors really worked hard this time. But I hope the new CM focuses on real issues like unemployment and education, not just political games. 🤔
Interesting to see Kerala politics shifting. The UDF win with 102 seats is huge - almost decimated the LDF. I've been following Kerala politics from abroad, and it seems the people wanted change after years of CPI(M) rule. Let's see if the new government delivers on promises.
Good for Kerala, but as an Indian, I'm more concerned about the country's direction. Rahul Gandhi's congratulations seem hollow when our borders are under threat. Why is Congress only focusing on state politics while national security issues are being neglected? 🤨
Finally some good news for Congress! But I'm skeptical - will this translate into national momentum? The party needs to fix its internal issues first. VD Satheesan is a seasoned leader though, and having people like Ramesh Chennithala and K Muraleedharan in cabinet is positive. Hope they focus on infrastructure and tourism in Kerala.
Good to see democracy working in India. The peaceful transition of power in Kerala shows the strength of Indian institutions. I hope the new government prioritizes development over divisive politics. Congratulations to all the new ministers!
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