Kerala’s newest cabinet minister K Muralidharan created a stir at the swearing-in ceremony when he took the oath in English while all other 20 ministers recited it in Malayalam. The decision, which stood out prominently at the Central Stadium event in Thiruvananthapuram, was deeply rooted in personal history and filial respect.

In a candid interview, Muralidharan revealed that his choice was a tribute to his father, former Chief Minister K Karunakaran. His father had taken the oath in English all five times he was sworn in as CM or minister in Kerala, and later as a Union minister in Delhi. Muralidharan said he felt it was his duty as a son to continue this family tradition.

The minister also shared a heartwarming childhood memory involving the word “conscientiously” from the oath of office. When he was in ninth grade, his mother Kalyanikutty Amma jokingly asked if he would be able to pronounce that word correctly if he ever became a minister. His father Karunakaran responded lightheartedly that Muralidharan had no interest in politics and would never need to take the oath. That comment stayed with him as a challenge, and he made sure to pronounce the word perfectly during his swearing-in.

Beyond the oath, Muralidharan’s official vehicle number also carries his father’s legacy. He specifically requested vehicle number 11, the same number used by K Karunakaran during his tenure as Home Minister and later as Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly. Every major phase of his father’s political journey was accompanied by that number, making it an emotional symbol of continuity.

Muralidharan approaches his new role with seriousness, emphasizing that his distinctive choices at the ceremony were not for publicity but a sincere homage to his past and his father’s political legacy.