Swearing-in ceremony: 2 ministers choose ‘solemn affirmation’; Muraleedharan takes oath in English

Thiruvananthapuram: Two ministers in the newly sworn-in UDF government in Kerala chose to “solemnly affirm” instead of taking an oath in the name of God as Chief Minister V D Satheesan and his 20-member Cabinet assumed office on Monday.

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Shibu Baby John was the first minister to make a solemn affirmation during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Stadium here. Later, Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C P John also chose to solemnly affirm his oath.

Both leaders belong to parties rooted in Left-socialist ideology, though they are now part of the Congress-led UDF government.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan and most other ministers took oath in the name of God in Malayalam before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan stood out as the only minister to take both the oath of office and secrecy in English.

The swearing-in ceremony began at 10 am and concluded around 11.30 am amid loud cheers from thousands of UDF workers and supporters gathered at the venue.

The Congress-led UDF returned to power in Kerala after registering a massive victory in the Assembly elections, winning 102 seats in the 140-member House.

Soon after the ceremony, Satheesan and the ministers attended a tea gathering hosted by Governor Arlekar at Lok Bhavan before proceeding to the State Secretariat.

Satheesan later entered his chamber, formally assumed office and chaired the first Cabinet meeting of the new government. Kerala Chief Secretary A Jayathilak was also present during the meeting.

The Chief Minister signed several official documents and handed over copies to ministers during the meeting. He is expected to brief the media later on the decisions taken by the Cabinet.