• V.D. Satheesan, a senior Congress leader, was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18, 2026, at a ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram, accompanied by 20 ministers.
• The ceremony, administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, followed the Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF) landslide victory, securing 102 out of 140 seats in the Assembly elections.
• Satheesan, who previously served as Opposition Leader from 2021-2026, is the 13th person to hold the Chief Minister post, succeeding Pinarayi Vijayan.
• The newly formed Cabinet includes 12 Congress members, five from the Indian Union Muslim League, and one each from Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Jacob), RSP, and CMP, with portfolios to be announced later.