Kerala Cabinet Ministers List 2026: Full List of 'Mantris' Likely To Be Part of Satheesan's Govt

As the Congress party has ended days of political suspense by naming VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala, the public is keen to know about the leaders who will be part of his cabinet.

Satheesan is expected to take the oath of office on Monday. However, it remains unclear whether all ministers will be sworn in alongside him. The new Chief Minister has stated that the final list of ministers will be prepared after consultations with senior party leaders.

According to reports, the 21-member cabinet will allocate 11 portfolios to the Congress party, including the Chief Minister's position. Key details still under discussion include the distribution of influential ministries and the post of Speaker.

Internal Dynamics and Leadership Jockeying

While Satheesan's appointment has settled the top post, internal power dynamics are surfacing. AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, who was passed over for the chief minister's role, has reportedly secured ministerial positions for his loyalists. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds Ramesh Chennithala, another prominent contender for the CM post. His notable absence from the legislative party meeting is widely interpreted as a sign of dissatisfaction with the central leadership's decision, leaving questions about whether he will accept a cabinet role.

Likely Ministers and Coalition Math

Media reports, including from Malayala Manorama, suggest that several senior leaders are almost assured of berths. These include KPCC President Sunny Joseph, along with Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and K. Muraleedharan. Other names under consideration for Congress portfolios or the Speaker's post include N. Shakthan, P.C. Vishnu Nath, Bindu Krishna, M. Liju, Chandy Oommen, V.T. Balram, A.P. Anil Kumar, T.C. Siddique, and K. Jayanth.

Among coalition partners, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is weighing candidates such as P.K. Kunhalikutty, P.K. Basheer, N. Shamsudheen, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, and others. The Kerala Congress is expected to demand two ministers but may ultimately settle for one ministerial post along with either the Deputy Speaker or Chief Whip positions. Mons Joseph, Thomas Unniyadan, and Apu John Joseph are in the running. Smaller partners like the RSP (Shibu Baby John) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) (Anoop Jacob) may also receive portfolios, along with C.P. John and Mani C. Kappan.

Other UDF Allies

Satheesan's Pledge for a 'New Era'

In his first remarks after being named, Satheesan thanked the party high command for the "huge responsibility." He underscored the mandate from the people, who ended a decade of Left rule by handing the UDF a resounding victory with 102 out of 140 seats. "What we promised to the public, we will fulfil one by one," he stated, vowing to work tirelessly to improve living standards and create a 'Puthu Yugam' (new era) for Kerala.