Thiruvananthapuram, May 17: Ahead of his swearing-in as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister, Congress leader VD Satheesan met with the esteemed Cardinal Clemis Bawa (Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Clemis) on Sunday.
Cardinal Bawa currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram.
In a post on the social media platform X, Satheesan expressed gratitude for receiving the Cardinal’s blessings and heartfelt wishes before taking office as Chief Minister.
He stated that the Cardinal’s words of faith and encouragement are “a source of immense strength and motivation.” With a sense of divine responsibility, he committed to ensuring inclusive governance, respecting all communities, and prioritizing the development and progress of Kerala.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding the formation of the cabinet are expected to conclude on Sunday, just before the swearing-in ceremony of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Monday.
The final list of ministers is anticipated to be submitted to the Governor around 2 PM, with intensive discussions ongoing among coalition partners and leadership throughout the morning.
Deepa Das Munshi, Congress representative and Kerala in-charge, confirmed that talks are progressing.
The new administration will assume office with a 21-member cabinet, the maximum allowed in the state, including the Chief Minister.
Political sources suggest that Congress is likely to secure 11 ministerial positions, including the Chief Minister’s role. While consensus has been reached on several Congress candidates, negotiations regarding ministerial positions with coalition partners are still ongoing. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala is expected to take charge of the Home Ministry, along with other prominent names such as state party chief Suni Joseph, K. Muraleedharan, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, A.P. Anil Kumar, P.C. Vishnunath, M. Liju, Chandy Oommen, and Bindu Krishna.
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