New Delhi: VD Satheesan took oath Chief Minister of Kerala The Congress-led United Democratic Front returned to power after a decade at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan and his 20-member council of ministers. Meanwhile, 14 ministers have become ministers for the first time in the new cabinet.Many leaders of Congress ruled states including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attended the event. Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP leader Rajiv Chandrashekhar were also present on the stage, with Satheesan greeting leaders across party lines after taking the oath.The new cabinet includes senior Congress figures like Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) government has five ministers, including PK Kunhalikutty, KM Shaji, PK Bashir, N Shamsuddin and VE Abdul Ghafoor.Other ministers include Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anilkumar, T Siddiqui, PC Vishnunadh, Rosy M John, Bindu Krishna, M Lijju, KA Tulsi and OJ Janish. Satheesan also announced the appointment of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as president, Shanimol Usman as vice-president and Apu John Joseph as government chief whip.The UDF secured a decisive mandate in the assembly elections by winning 102 out of 140 seats in Kerala. Congress emerged as the largest party with 63 seats, while IUML won 22 seats. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) was reduced to 35 seats, while the BJP won three constituencies.Satheesan, credited with the Congress’ comeback in Kerala after two consecutive LDF tenures, emerged as the choice for the chief ministerial post after intense internal deliberations within the Congress. The party’s central leadership had reportedly favored Congress general secretary KC Venugopal for the post, but strong support from grassroots workers, IUML and public sentiments ultimately tilted the decision in Satheesan’s favour.