Kerala UDF Cabinet 2026 VD Satheesan announces 20 ministers (IMAGE: X)
KERALA CABINET FORMATION: Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan, during the Kerala Cabinet Formation, revealed that 20 ministers will be added to his cabinet. Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership seemed to be in a hectic last-minute huddle to finalise the outline of the UDF government before its swearing-in on Monday (May 18, 2026). In the run-up to the formation of the new UDF government, Kerala Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar met senior Congress leader and MLA-elect, Ramesh Chennithala, who had been in the spotlight for being the possible Home Minister in the government.
Delegation of Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan revealed that the Congress has given five Cabinet berths to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which forms the second largest party in the UDF. Mr. Satheesan also wanted to nominate women Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman in the Cabinet, his office said. He has allegedly said that he wanted younger legislators like Chandy Oommen and V.T. Balaram to be in the government.
On the occasion, Keralam Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan said, “The swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow at 10 am. Along with the Chief Minister, the full Cabinet will take the oath together after nearly six decades.”
He added, “The Indian Union Muslim League has already announced its nominees. Among the 63 Congress MLAs, there are many deserving leaders. Several deserving leaders have also been left out and remain outside the Cabinet. There is sadness and difficulty in that. Various limitations, criteria and social realities led to such decisions.”
Ministers of UDF Cabinet:
P K Kunhalikutty
Ramesh Chennithala
Sunny Joseph
K Muraleedharan
Mons Joseph
Shibu Baby John
Anoop Jacob
C P John
A P Anil Kumar
N Samsudheen
P C Vishnunath
Roji M John
Bindu Krishna
M Liju
K M Shaji
P K Basheer
V E Abdul Gafoor
T Siddique
K A Thulasi
O J Janeesh
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said, “The discussion is already completed. The Chief Minister, VD Satheesan, has already submitted the list to the Governor of Kerala… The Congress party has very senior people. We cannot accommodate everybody in the Cabinet. But we try to accommodate most of the people… The spectacular victory which has been given by the people of Kerala should be respected.”
UDF also decided that Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan should be appointed as the Speaker in the Assembly and Shanimol Usman would be the Deputy Speaker. According to Satheesan, several worthy leaders were denied entry into the Cabinet because of a lack of sufficient seats for them, even though Congress won 63 seats, their biggest victory in the state.
VD Satheesan will be sworn in as Kerala Chief Minister on May 18.
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With 13 years on the line, Ashish Kumar Singh loves everything when it comes to movies, music, travel and pop culture. Formerly employed at ANI, Pinkvilla, India Today and HT, Ashish has interviewed some of the top celebrities of India, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan, among others. Breaking news excites him and deadlines are what he chases. Interviewing comes naturally to him. Hit him up at ashish.kumar02singh@gmail.com.
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