V D Satheesan to take oath on Monday morning; grand preparations underway at Central Stadium

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: V D Satheesan will take oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala at 10 am on Monday at a function to be held at the Central Stadium near the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Satheesan met Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Thursday evening and discussed the details of government formation. He also submitted letters of support from 63 Congress MLAs and alliance partners to the Governor. Satheesan informed the Governor that the list of ministers would be submitted later. Following the meeting, the Governor formally invited him to form the government.

Satheesan also handed over the letter confirming his election as the Congress Parliamentary Party leader. KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi accompanied him during the meeting.

The Governor welcomed Satheesan with a bouquet and shawl, while Satheesan also presented a bouquet to the Governor. Raj Bhavan arranged a warm reception for the leader, and the Governor extended his best wishes.

Satheesan reportedly told the Governor that the oath-taking time had been fixed after checking astrological details, including horoscope and birth time. The meeting lasted around 15 minutes.

Huge pandal for 3000 people
Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony. A massive pandal with seating capacity for around 3,000 people is being prepared at the Central Stadium. Chief Ministers from Congress-ruled states such as Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh are expected to attend. M K Stalin is also likely to be invited. Leaders from various states, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, are also expected at the event.

The first cabinet meeting of the new government will also be held on Monday. The cabinet is expected to recommend to the Governor that the Assembly be convened. Once approved by the Governor, newly elected MLAs will be summoned for the oath-taking ceremony.