VD Satheesan sworn in as Kerala's 13th CM, UDF ends decade of LDF rule
Synopsis
Kerala's political landscape shifted decisively on Monday as V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the state's 13th Chief Minister, backed by a UDF tally of 102 seats — the Congress alone winning a record 63. After 10 years of LDF rule and 15 years out of the CM's chair, the Congress is calling it an unprecedented mandate, and the numbers back them up.
Key Takeaways
Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala's 13th Chief Minister on 18 May at the Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram .
The UDF won 102 of 140 Assembly seats ; the Congress alone secured a record 63 seats .
The swearing-in ends 10 years of LDF rule under Pinarayi Vijayan and marks the Congress's return to power after 15 years .
Governor Rajendra V.
Arlekar administered the oath to Satheesan and the full cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called it 'an unprecedented victory' with 'such a huge majority never seen there before.'
V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala's 13th Chief Minister on Monday, 18 May, at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, formally ending a decade of CPI(M) rule under veteran leader Pinarayi Vijayan. Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan and the full cabinet, marking the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after 10 years.
A Historic Mandate
The UDF swept the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, winning 102 seats — a commanding majority. The Indian National Congress (INC) alone secured 63 seats, its best-ever tally in the state. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, who attended the swearing-in, described the result as extraordinary. 'This is an unprecedented victory, with such a huge majority never seen there before. It is the first time such a large mandate has been achieved, and everyone is happy, which is why we are all going together,' Kharge said.
End of the LDF Era
The swearing-in formally closes the curtain on Pinarayi Vijayan's decade-long tenure, which had become one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of Left Democratic Front (LDF) governance in Kerala's post-independence history. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala framed the transition as a decisive public verdict. 'Today is an auspicious day for the people of Kerala because after 10 years, the UDF is coming to power. The 10-year rule of LDF has been rejected by the people of Kerala. So it is our bounden duty to give good governance to the people of Kerala,' he said.
Fifteen Years Since Congress Last Governed
The last time the Congress occupied the Chief Minister's seat in Kerala was under the late Oommen Chandy, more than 15 years ago. Monday's ceremony, by that measure, carries deep symbolic weight for the party's Kerala unit. Roads leading to the Central Stadium were lined with Congress workers dressed in white khadi, waving party flags and distributing sweets from the early hours of the day. Vehicles streamed into Thiruvananthapuram from across the state as thousands gathered to witness the transition.
What Congress Leaders Are Saying
Kharge called the occasion 'a grand celebration' and noted that all cabinet ministers — including those from across the UDF coalition — would take oath together. Congress leaders have collectively described the moment not merely as a change of government but as the beginning of a new political era in the state. The mood within the Congress camp, according to reports, was one of triumph after a prolonged period of political setbacks at the national level.
What Comes Next
With a strong mandate in hand, the Satheesan government faces immediate expectations on governance delivery — particularly on issues that the UDF campaigned on against the outgoing LDF administration. The new cabinet's composition and early policy signals will be closely watched as an indicator of whether the UDF's landslide translates into durable political realignment in Kerala.
Point of View
And it hands Satheesan a mandate that few incoming chief ministers in Kerala's history have enjoyed. The Congress, battered at the national level, now has a rare southern stronghold to demonstrate that it can govern, not just oppose. The risk is equally sharp: with expectations calibrated to a 'historic' moment, any early stumble on governance will be magnified. Kerala voters have shown they can swing decisively — the LDF learned that lesson on Monday.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is V.D. Satheesan and which post has he assumed?
V.D. Satheesan is a senior Congress leader from Kerala who was sworn in as the state's 13th Chief Minister on 18 May at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. He leads the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government that won 102 of 140 Assembly seats.
How many seats did the UDF and Congress win in the Kerala election?
The UDF won 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, while the Congress alone secured 63 seats — its best-ever performance in the state. The result gave the UDF a commanding majority to form the government.
Why is this Kerala election result considered unprecedented?
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge described it as 'an unprecedented victory, with such a huge majority never seen there before.' The Congress's tally of 63 seats is a record for the party in Kerala, and the UDF's 102-seat haul is an unusually large majority in a closely contested state.
How long was the LDF in power before this election?
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) under Pinarayi Vijayan governed Kerala for 10 years before Monday's swearing-in. The Congress had last held the Chief Minister's post more than 15 years ago under the late Oommen Chandy.
What are the immediate expectations from the new Satheesan government?
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala stated it is the UDF's 'bounden duty to give good governance to the people of Kerala.' The new cabinet's policy priorities and composition will be closely watched as early signals of how the government intends to use its strong mandate.
