Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is set to join the cabinet of Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan in Kerala, with the crucial Home portfolio likely to be assigned to the veteran politician — a move party insiders describe as the decisive peace formula brokered by the Congress high command to end days of internal friction.

How the Deadlock Was Broken

The breakthrough came on Saturday, 17 May, after a marathon sequence of political consultations that began at Chennithala's residence, where senior Congress leaders — including AICC observer Deepa Dasmunshi — arrived for early-morning discussions. Satheesan himself then drove to Chennithala's home for a direct round of talks before proceeding to the residence of Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal.

The nearly 45-minute session at Venugopal's residence appeared to have finally resolved the impasse that had persisted since Satheesan emerged as the Congress choice for chief ministership, leaving sections loyal to Chennithala deeply disappointed. Television visuals subsequently showed Venugopal heading directly to Chennithala's residence — a signal, observers noted, that the final contours of the compromise had been settled.

By the time the meeting concluded, the atmosphere had visibly shifted: both leaders emerged smiling before waiting reporters. Venugopal told journalists, 'Chennithala's words in the party do matter. All leaders will be consulted, discussed and debated.' Chennithala, choosing reconciliation over confrontation, declared: 'I am always a Congressman and all along I have been a true Congressman.'

Cabinet Contenders: Who Is in the Frame

With the Chennithala question apparently settled, the Congress has moved to finalising ministerial berths in the new United Democratic Front (UDF) government. Among those strongly tipped for inclusion are Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, K. Muraleedharan, Sunny Joseph, A.P. Anil Kumar, P.C. Vishnunath, M. Liju, and Chandy Oommen.

Late-night consultations are reportedly also underway over possible surprise inclusions, with names such as V.P. Sajeendran, T. Siddiq, Anwar Sadath, and Roji M. John gaining traction. Among women legislators, Bindu Krishna, Shanimol Usman, and Uma Thomas remain in contention.

IUML Narrows Its Shortlist

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest ally in the UDF, is learnt to have narrowed its cabinet shortlist to P.K. Kunhalikutty, K.M. Shaji, N. Shamsudheen, Parakkal Abdullah, and V.E. Gafoor. The IUML's representation will be closely watched as a marker of coalition balance in the incoming government.

Swearing-In: Date, Venue, and a Notable Gesture

The swearing-in ceremony of V.D. Satheesan as Kerala's 13th Chief Minister, along with his 20-member cabinet, is scheduled for 10 am on Monday at the Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office. Venugopal confirmed that the full list of cabinet ministers would be submitted to the Governor by Sunday afternoon.

In a notable political gesture, CPI-M state secretary M.V. Govindan announced that the Left opposition would attend the ceremony and would not boycott the function — a signal of institutional normalcy despite the bitterly contested electoral outcome. This marks a significant departure from the acrimony that has characterised Kerala's political transitions in recent cycles.