2 weeks ago
1
Ahead of the caller authorities enactment successful Kerala, the Congress enactment connected Sunday (May 17, 2026) continued its negotiations with United Democratic Front (UDF) allies implicit Cabinet-related decisions and the sharing of ministerial portfolios.
Amidst whispers successful the corridors of powerfulness taking and talks with single-MLA allies, each eyes are connected however the Congress would yet disagreement powerfulness earlier the swearing-in ceremonial connected Monday (May 18, 2026).
Kerala Cabinet Formation LIVE updates - May 17, 2026
While Congress insiders said a “clear picture” would look earlier 1 p.m., the enactment is understood to person requested allies to marque compromises and onslaught a mediate ground. This comes up of the 2 p.m. deadline for Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan to taxable the database of Council of Ministers to Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlerkar.
The Congress has besides reportedly promised allies aboriginal accommodations to code immoderate dissatisfaction.
Congress insiders confirmed reports that Mani C. Kappan, Nationalist Congress Kerala’s MLA-elect, who felled Kerala Congress (M) chairperson Jose K. Mani successful a high-profile conflict for Pala constituency, has rejected the request that single-legislator parties hold to “term-sharing” successful the Cabinet.
Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob), MLA-elect from Piravom, has besides demanded a afloat word successful the government. Kerala Congress person P.J. Joseph has demanded 2 Cabinet ministers for his party, which has 7 MLA-designates.
According to Congress insiders, the inclusion of Shibu Baby John of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and lone MLA-elect of the Communist Marxist Party, C.P. John, was “almost a given”.
Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan’s bureau confirmed that the Congress has allocated 5 Cabinet berths to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-largest constituent of the UDF.
IUML nationalist wide caput and MLA-elect P.K. Kunhalikutty’s inclusion successful a elder presumption was a certainty.
UDF insiders said the IUML was reportedly weighing the names of K.M. Shaji, N. Shamshudeen, Parakkal Abdulla, V.E. Abdul Gafoor and P.K. Basheer arsenic Cabinet ministers. The IUML has reportedly made a transportation for the Industries and IT portfolios, arsenic good arsenic Education, Public Works, Local Self-Government, and Urban Affairs, immoderate of which the enactment had held successful the Oommen Chandy authorities (2011-16).
The UDF besides has to determine however to “reward” Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] rebels who aligned with the Congress-led confederation aft acrimoniously parting ways with the party. Foremost among them is erstwhile CPI(M) person and erstwhile Public Works (PWD) Minister G. Sudhakaran, who won the Ambalapuzha constituency successful Alappuzha —a Left Democratic Front (LDF) stronghold — by a immense margin.
Mr. Sudhakaran told reporters successful Alappuzha that helium would neither question nor diminution a ministerial berth. CPI(M) rebel T.K. Govindan, MLA-elect from Taliparamba successful Kannur, met elder person Ramesh Chennithala astatine the latter’s residence.
Also work | V.D. Satheesan: The ‘Nehruvian’ revivalist
CPI(M) dissident and elder politician, V. Kunhikrishnan, MLA-elect from Payannur successful Kannur, besides met Mr. Chennithala. He sought to close his portrayal arsenic the “first non-communist” to triumph from the CPI(M) stronghold, by insisting that helium remained “an untainted Communist and archetypal non-CPI(M) member” to container the constituency.
Meanwhile, KPCC President Sunny Joseph, MLA, demurred erstwhile queried by reporters successful Thiruvananthapuram astir ministerial berth-sharing discussions betwixt allies and assorted factions successful the Congress successful Kerala. “UDF volition person a meritorious Cabinet”, helium said.
