VD Satheesan balances veterans, dynasts, and young faces in new Kerala cabinet
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Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday unveiled a 21-member Cabinet that combines senior leaders, political heirs, and first-time ministers as the Congress-led United Democratic Front returned to power in the state.
Five ministers in the new Cabinet are political heirs. They include Congress leader K Muraleedharan, son of former Chief Minister K Karunakaran; RSP leader Shibu Baby John, son of veteran leader Baby John; Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob, son of former minister T. M. Jacob; and IUML leaders P. K. Basheer and V. E. Abdul Gafoor, both sons of former legislators.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, a former Opposition leader and home minister, is among the most experienced faces in the Cabinet. K Muraleedharan, a former state Congress president and Lok Sabha MP, also returns to ministerial office.
Sunny Joseph, the current Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, has been inducted after defeating CPI(M) leader K K Shailaja in the Assembly election. Congress working president P C Vishnunadh and first-time MLA Bindu Krishna are also part of the ministry.
T Siddique, a former Youth Congress state president and close associate of late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, secured a Cabinet berth after winning from Kalpetta.
The Indian Union Muslim League secured key representation with senior leader P K Kunhalikutty, along with N Samsudheen, K M Shaji, P K Basheer, and V E Abdul Gafoor joining the Cabinet.
Among allies, Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader Mons Joseph, RSP’s Shibu Baby John, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob were included.
Congress leader A P Anil Kumar, one of the party’s prominent Dalit faces, also returned to the ministry. K A Thulasi, wife of Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan, became one of the first-time ministers in the Cabinet.
CMP leader C P John entered the Assembly for the first time and was rewarded with a ministerial position.
The youngest minister in the Cabinet is 37-year-old Youth Congress leader O J Janeesh, who won his debut election from Kodungallur. Roji M John and first-time MLA M Liju also represent the younger generation in the ministry.