Six-time Congress legislator V D Satheesan takes oath as new Kerala Chief Minister marking return of Congress-Muslim League led UDF to the corridors of power after 10 years.
"My best wishes for his tenure. The Central Government assures all possible support for the newly formed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspirations of the people, " tweeted PM Narendra Modi.
VDS was LoP between 2021 and 2026 May and spearheaded the party’s march to victory in the just completed Assembly elections.
He is the 13 th Chief Minister of Kerala.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan and his 20-member Council of Ministers at a grand ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a display of healthy democratic transition, outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was present on stage, alongside BJP State chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
The new Cabinet reflects a “generational shift” in Kerala politics, with a majority of first-time ministers inducted into the government.
Of the 21-member ministry, including the chief minister, 14 are fresh faces.
On a broad stage, Kerala is unlike West Bengal - another former 'red bastion'.
The Congress-led UDF victory in Kerala would not mean that the Left has been wiped out forever in 'God's own country'.
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s defeat in the 2026 Assembly election in Kerala, which was the last state ruled by Communist parties, might suggest a fading Left.
But it may be too early to suggest the end of communism politics in India.
For detractors - it may be Communist-mukt-Bharat; the Left parties had lost Bengal in 2011 and Tripura in 2018.
However, it is a fact that the defeat of the LDF coalition in Kerala only follows an electoral rhythm. In fact, it is to the credit of CPI-M and its veteran leader Vijayan that the Left parties returned to power in 2021.
Normally, Kerala changes government every five years.
The Leftists might be out of power, but not out of favour completely in the southern state.
It's a matter of fact that in the states and regions where the Leftists have been "losing their grip", the pro-Hindu BJP has gained ground. The BJP's success in West Bengal is especially exemplary and worth closer scrutiny because the BJP hardly had three MLAs in the state in 2016 and within 10 years, it has 207 members in the 294-member assembly.
The religious minorities Christians and Muslims who should have been "happy" about atheism losing ground have over the years became more worried about an even worse form of political ideology and social narratives gaining power and influence.
But it is true, due to multiple reasons and even the refusal to change on their own part; ....
... the downward slippery journey of Indian communists, electorally and in exerting influence on the sociopolitical mindset, has been phenomenal since 2011.
In contrast, the BJP, known for pushing India towards a 'Hindu-nationalistic hegemony', is now in power in 78 per cent of India's landscape.
It is in power in Tripura and the saffron party has been gaining political support Kerala too. It has three MLAs for the first time.
In more ways than one, Kerala has come at crossroads now.
How things would continue remain to be seen. Vijayan and the CPI-M have been also trying to gain the support of Hindus and Christians, notwithstanding their ideological indifference to the politics of religion.
The reported growth in influence of radical Islamic forces in Kerala and the government action to check it should gain some support from Hindus and Christians.
The Leftists may describe this appeasing of religion as pragmatism.
But pragmatism is also something between a good political substitute and naked opportunism.
ends
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