VD Satheesan took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday, marking the return of the UDF government to power. However, within 24 hours of assuming office, the new cabinet received a warning from Lock Bhavan over a serious protocol violation during the swearing-in ceremony.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had explicitly instructed that only the Chief Minister-designate, ministers, the Governor, and the Chief Secretary should be seated on the stage during the oath-taking event. This is the standard protocol followed in the state for official public functions. Despite this clear directive, the stage was set up with additional chairs, and over a hundred people crowded onto the stage, violating the Governor’s orders.

The controversy began when VD Satheesan requested the Governor to allow leaders including Rahul Gandhi to be seated on the stage. The Governor informed the protocol department of his decision, citing the Tamil Nadu model where such arrangements are not permitted. Police reports also warned of security concerns if too many people were seated on stage.

On Monday morning, when the Lock Bhavan Secretary arrived to inspect the stage arrangements, he found more chairs than permitted and immediately informed the Governor. The Governor then spoke to the Chief Secretary. Following a request from the Chief Secretary on behalf of Satheesan to allow more chairs for Z Plus category security leaders, the Governor reluctantly agreed but issued a warning against any security lapse. However, the organisers placed even more chairs than agreed upon, and over a hundred people pushed onto the stage.

During the tea reception at Lock Bhavan, the Governor expressed his displeasure to Satheesan over the incident.

Meanwhile, several prominent Congress leaders were absent from the ceremony. A K Antony was on rest due to ill health, Shashi Tharoor was abroad, and former KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran also did not attend. SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan stayed away from the function. Palakkad MLA-elect Ramesh Pisharadi attended but could not even enter the venue due to the massive crowd.

The massive turnout of UDF workers from across the state caused an unprecedented rush in Thiruvananthapuram. Hotels and rooms in Thampanoor and nearby areas were fully booked, with many workers walking from the Mosque Line and SN College Road to the Central Stadium. Auto-rickshaws were impossible to find, and even police presence along the routes did little to manage the crowd.

In his first cabinet meeting, Satheesan announced several key decisions. Free travel for women on KSRTC buses will begin from June 15. A separate department for senior citizens will be established, making Kerala the first state in India to have such a dedicated department. ASHA workers will receive a salary hike of Rs. 3,000 in the first phase, with retirement benefits to be addressed in the coming month. Anganwadi workers and helpers, pre-primary teachers, and cooking workers will each receive an increase of Rs. 1,000 in their honorarium.

The government also decided to convene a special assembly session on May 21 for the oath-taking of MLAs and on May 22 for the election of the Speaker. The Governor’s policy address is expected on May 29. Senior MLA and former Minister G Sudhakaran has been appointed as Pro-tem Speaker. Advocate K Gopalakrishna Kurup resigned as Advocate General, and Senior Advocate Jayaju Babu has been appointed as the new Advocate General. T A Shaji resigned as Director General of Prosecution, and Advocate T Asaf Ali has been appointed to the position.

In a significant move, the cabinet decided to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate the 2023 incident where two individuals were attacked by Chief Minister’s gunmen during a protest in Alappuzha. The Alappuzha Magistrate Court had ordered a re-investigation in November 2024 after video evidence contradicted the initial police claim that there was no evidence.

The government also announced plans to release a white paper on Kerala’s financial situation, prepared by a team of financial experts.