From Rahul Gandhi to Revanth Reddy; Central Stadium packed with VVIPs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Stadium is packed with VVIPs for the swearing-in ceremony of the UDF government. Most of the seats in the stadium were filled by 7:30 am. There is a long queue of VVIPs. Heavy security has been deployed in the capital.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are among the leaders present on the stage. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy are also present.

Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and CPM state secretary M V Govindan are also present on the stage. The swearing-in ceremony is being held with opposition leaders on the stage.

After six decades, a full-fledged Congress-led cabinet is being sworn in. 14 people, including the chief minister, are new faces. There are two from the Scheduled Caste community. Apart from the chief minister, eleven people are from the Congress. The Ezhava community, which has nine members, has got only three ministerial posts. Senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is the Speaker. Shanimol Usman is the Deputy Speaker. This is the first time a woman has been appointed to this post since A Nafeesath Beevi held the post of deputy speaker in the second Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Chandy Oommn was included in the first list, but was dropped at the last minute. Roji M John was included. O J Janeesh was included at the last minute. It is learnt that Anoop Jacob, who was a full-time minister in the previous UDF cabinet, will get only two and a half years this time. The remaining two and a half years will be given to UDF independent Mani C Kappan. K A Thulasi will get the first two and a half years and then to I C Balakrishnan. Although the majority of ministers are KC supporters, Thulasi and Balakrishnan were considered at Chennithala's request. This understanding has not been officially announced. In the Muslim League, P K Basheer was included while Parakkal Abdullah was excluded.