Change of power in Kerala, VD Satheesan takes oath as Chief Minister, Congress returns after 10 years

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram. Amid political changes in Kerala, Congress leader VD Satheesan took the oath of office and secrecy as the new Chief Minister. The Governor administered the oath of office to him at a grand swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Many senior party leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the ceremony.

With VD Satheesan becoming the Chief Minister, CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s 10-year-long rule in Kerala formally ended. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has returned to power in the state after 15 years. Before this, Congress was last in government under the leadership of late Oommen Chandy.

Congress leaders described the swearing-in as “the beginning of a new political era” in Kerala. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that this is a historic victory for Kerala and the people have rejected the 10-year rule of LDF. He said that now it is the responsibility of UDF to give a better and public welfare government to the people of the state.

In the recently concluded assembly elections, UDF performed brilliantly and won 102 seats in the 140-member assembly. At the same time, Congress alone gave its best performance in the state by winning 63 seats.