Kerala cabinet expansion: CM VD Satheesan, key Ministers allocated additional portfolios in reshuffle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala state government on Sunday issued an official notification finalising a major redistribution of cabinet portfolios, allocating additional departments to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and several ministers. The restructuring also introduces key administrative renamings to align state departments with modern governance frameworks.

According to the official gazette, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will now oversee the State Goods and Services Tax (GST) department—formerly functioning as Commercial Taxes—alongside the newly designated Public Procurement Advisory Department (previously the Store Purchase Department). In addition to these systemic portfolios, the Chief Minister has assumed control of the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology and the Khadi and Village Industries sector.

The reshuffle expands the responsibilities of several high-profile cabinet members:

• Bindu Krishna: Takes charge of crucial welfare and labour portfolios, assuming control over Rehabilitation, Factories and Boilers, the Insurance Medical Service, Industrial Tribunals, and Labour Courts.
• P.K. Kunhalikutty: Expands his administrative footprint into digital education and commerce, taking over the Plantation Directorate, Industrial Co-operatives, and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (Digital University Kerala).
• Shibu Baby John: Assigned the portfolios of Employment and Training, along with the state's vital Cashew Industry sector.
• V.M. Abdul Gafoor: Handed administrative oversight of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies.

The notification further formalised a structural change to the local governance portfolio held by K.M. Shaji. His current department—originally comprising Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations—has been formally rebranded as the Department of Local Self Government (Panchayat, Municipality, and Corporation) to reflect a more integrated approach to local administration.

The reallocations and departmental updates come into effect immediately.