After much anticipation, the Congress on Thursday announced V. D. Satheesan will become the next Chief Minister of Kerala. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala were also in the race, but the Congress High Command decided to select the former Opposition Leader considering his mass appeal.
The focus now shifts to the cabinet selection and the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. The Congress-led UDF secured a more than two-thirds majority in the Kerala Assembly elections, but the party has been unable to decide its chief ministerial face due to lobbying by different camps and protests by workers at the ground level. In the 21-member cabinet, the Congress is expected to have 11 ministers including the Chief Minister, along with the Speaker’s post. The IUML is expected to get four slots. Although the Kerala Congress may demand two ministerial berths, it is likely to get one ministerial position along with either the Deputy Speaker’s post or the Chief Whip position.
The new UDF Cabinet is likely to take the oath on Monday or Tuesday after finalising cabinet members. Along with fellow Congress Chief Ministers of other states, Tamil Nadu's C. Joseph Vijay is also likely to attend the event, sources told The Week. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay took the oath on May 10 after five Congress MLAs abandoned the DMK-led SPA alliance to join his ranks. The backing of the Congress legislators was crucial for the TVK, which fell short of a simple majority on its own. Later, Vijay was also backed by the VCK, IUML, and Left MLAs before the rebel faction of the AIADMK also extended its support.
The IUML is the second-biggest party in the Congress-led UDF. Even otherwise, the governments in neighbouring Kerala and Tamil Nadu share a warm bond. Outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had congratulated Vijay after he took the oath as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, and the actor-turned-politician had thanked the "comrade" for his generous words.
