Congress appears locked in last-minute consultations on government formation

2 weeks ago 1
ARTICLE AD BOX
Kerala Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan with Congress person  Ramesh Chennithala. FIle

Kerala Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan with Congress person Ramesh Chennithala. FIle | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership appeared locked successful hectic last-minute consultations among each enactment factions and cardinal allies to finalise the contours of the Cabinet up of the government’s swearing-in connected Monday (May 18, 2026). 

The authorities of factions appeared to play spoilsport, astatine slightest transiently, with elder person Ramesh Chennithala, who was reportedly offered the Home portfolio, purportedly insisting that the Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan, besides accommodate his loyalists, Anwar Sadat and T J Vinod, successful the cabinet. 

According to Mr. Satheesan’s office, the Chief Minister designate was pushing for the inclusion of women, Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman, successful the Cabinet. He has reportedly expressed his penchant for younger legislators, including Chandy Oommen and V.T. Balaram, to articulation the government.. 

The Congress leadership, including AICC wide caput successful complaint of Kerala, Deepadas Munsi, was reportedly making haste to prod the faction chiefs into a lasting statement connected furniture enactment earlier the deadline for submitting the last database of ministers to Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar expires astatine 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, speculation astir prospective ministers and their respective portfolios was generating important quality sum crossed societal and accepted media. 

According to Mr. Satheesan’s office, the Chief Minister designate was pushing for the inclusion of women, Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman, successful the Cabinet. He has reportedly expressed his penchant for younger legislators, including Chandy Oommen and V.T. Balaram, joining the government. 

According to his office, Mr. Satheesan mightiness clasp the concern portfolio. While successful the Opposition, Mr Satheesan had assailed the erstwhile Left Democratic Front (LDF) medication for “poor fiscal management, shoddy taxation medication and reckless extravagance”.

According to the office, Mr. Satheesan and his 21-member furniture volition instrumentality the oath of bureau connected Monday (May 18, 2026). KPCC sources said the Congress would clasp 11 portfolios, including the Speaker’s. They said the enactment was weighing elder person Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan for the post. 

Senior leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph and K Muraleedharan, volition curse successful arsenic ministers on with Mr Satheesan. Mr. Muraleedharan’s bureau said helium had expressed a penchant for the wellness portfolio, but the enactment would marque the last telephone regarding portfolio allocation. 

Published - May 17, 2026 10:24 americium IST

Read Entire Article