Satheesan, 61, will be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 18 at the Central Stadium in the State capital. Along with the Chief Minister-designate, other UDF leaders may also take oath on the same day. Satheesan met the Kerala Governor, accompanied by senior Congress leaders after being formally selected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, to stake his claim to form the Government.

Satheesan, who led the Opposition in the State Assembly from 2021 to 2026, will be the 13th person to hold the Chief Minister’s position. The UDF scored a spectacular victory in the April 9 election, winning 102 of the 140 seats in the State Assembly, ending the 10-year rule of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF)

The primary task before the new Chief Minister designate is to mollify the miffed Ramesh Chennithala and K. C. Venugopal, who were the other top contenders for the CM’s post. Satheesan had a meeting with Chennithala at his residence on Friday. The latter seemed to have softened his stand. But within 24 hours, he changed his stand, prolonging the suspense. Chennithala’s latest stand: he should get the Home portfolio, and his close confidants such as Anwar Sadat, I C Balakrishnan and Jyotikumar Chamakkala should also be accommodated in the new Cabinet. Incidentally, Chennithala was the Home Minister in the erstwhile Oommen Chandy Cabinet. What remains to be seen is whether Satheesan will be ready to give up the Home portfolio.

Similarly, K. C. Venugopal has also upped the ante by demanding at least 6 ministerial berths and plum portfolios. KC is in Kerala and having discussions with his loyalists and other ministerial aspirants, signalling his intent to bargain hard.

As of now, the indications are that the Congress will get 11 Cabinet posts, including that of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has staked its claim for five ministers’ posts and portfolios like education, PWD and minorities. It will be difficult for Satheesan to reject the IUML’s demands as he has become the Chief Minister, among other factors, because of the strong support from that party. It may be mentioned that there is strong objection to the IUML being given the education portfolio this time around from a section of Congress leaders. They are of the view that the education portfolio should be taken over by the Congress itself.

To add to Satheesan’s problems, the Kerala Congress(Joseph), which won seven out of the eight seats the party contested, has demanded two berths in the Cabinet. Their contention is that if allies with one seat each - Kerala Congress(Jacob) and Communist Marxist Party(CMP) - have been promised one ministerial position, then they are entitled to two berths! The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), with two designated MLAs, has also demanded a Cabinet post. Reconciling all these claims will be the biggest headache of the CM-designate. And he has to decide fast as the list of ministers has to be handed over to the Kerala Governor on Sunday.

The new CM-designate will also have to prove that he is his own man and would not be pressurized into taking wrong decisions, especially by the IUML, which called the shots in the erstwhile Oommen Chandy Government. The Nair Service Society (NSS) chief G. Sukumaran Nair is on record that IUML would dominate the new UDF Government as it did in the past. In his reaction, Nair said the Congress High Command has capitulated to the IUML by nominating Satheesan as the CM. Therefore, the IUML will also have to avoid giving the impression of being the ‘kingmaker’. IUML leaders have said that they would not interfere in the internal affairs of the Congress. But they conveniently forget that the party has already violated that coalition dharma by openly backing Satheesan for the CM’s post!

But Satheesan is a no-nonsense man who does not believe in pleasing one and all. He hates playing second fiddle to anybody, and is a leader who is bold and fearless. Any way, the way he handles the ties with the IUML would be closely watched by both the ruling front constituents and the political rivals.

Meanwhile, Satheesan has made a courtesy call on outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition(LoP). They had a cordial meeting at Pinarayi’s residence, where the latter played a gracious host. The meeting was noted for its warmth and camaraderie. The heated debates and fiery arguments the duo had over the last five years receded into the background for once.

To the waiting presspersons, Satheesan said he had come to seek the support of Pinarayi, one of the senior-most and most seasoned politicians in the State. Despite the obvious political differences, Satheesan said he expected Pinarayi’s wholehearted support in all matters of the State which pertain to its development and the welfare of the people. He also ruled out discarding all the projects of the previous government blindly, but hinted at corrections wherever required. (IPA Service)