Thiruvananthapuram: Preparations are progressing at the Central Stadium for the swearing-in ceremony of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government. A massive pandal is being set up with seating arrangements for around 10,000 people. Authorities expect nearly one lakh people to attend the ceremony.

Apart from video walls being installed on the sides of the venue, giant screens will also be set up at various locations across the city, including Nishagandhi, for the public to watch the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 10 am on Monday.

Entry for the general public will be regulated through passes. After the swearing-in ceremony, the ministers will proceed to Lok Bhavan for a reception hosted by the Governor. This will be followed by a Cabinet meeting, after which a recommendation to convene the Assembly will be submitted to the Governor.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are among the leaders expected to attend the ceremony. Chief Ministers of neighbouring states and several prominent personalities from the film industry have also been invited.

The schedule is as follows: Cabinet swearing-in: May 18; Swearing-in of MLAs: May 21; Speaker election: May 22; Governor’s policy address: May 29 ; State Budget: June 5