VD Satheesan has officially taken the oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala, leading a new 20-member cabinet. This decision follows a prolonged selection process after the Congress party's victory, where Satheesan emerged as the preferred candidate despite initial opposition from the party's central leadership. His cabinet includes 11 Congress ministers and representatives from allied parties, such as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Notably, 14 cabinet members are new faces, reflecting a shift towards fresh leadership. Satheesan aims to implement significant austerity measures, including ending the extravagant VIP culture that has been a source of public discontent. He has committed to traveling with minimal security and has rejected the tradition of purchasing new luxury vehicles for ministers, opting instead to continue using those from the previous government. The oath-taking ceremony will be attended by key Congress figures, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, marking a pivotal moment in Kerala's political landscape.