In office after 10 years in Kerala, UDF makes strong welfare pitch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress-led UDF returned to office in Kerala after a decade as six-term MLA VD Satheesan took oath as CM before a roaring crowd at Thiruvananthapuram's Central Stadium Monday and signalled a sharp political reset through a string of welfare measures, administrative changes and a fresh probe into a politically sensitive assault case linked to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan's Nava Kerala Yatra in 2023.

Satheesan moved swiftly to stamp authority on administration and underline UDF's welfare-first pitch.

First cabinet meeting cleared free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15, a Rs 3,000 increase in ASHA workers' honorarium and creation of a separate department for senior citizens, which CM described as a first-of-its-kind initiative in country.





"The protection of senior citizens is essential for building a civilised society," Satheesan said at his first press conference as chief minister. Govt also announced a white paper on Kerala's financial health through an expert committee comprising officials and financial specialists.

In another politically loaded move, cabinet ordered a reinvestigation into assault on Youth Congress and KSU activists by gunmen attached to Vijayan during Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha after black-flag protests in Dec 2023.

Satheesan said an SIT would probe the case, accusing previous govt of dragging feet despite court directions for reinvestigation.

Cabinet also replaced top legal officers, appointing T Asaf Ali as DG of prosecution in place of TA Shaji and Jaju Babu as advocate general, replacing K Gopalakrishna Kurup.

Satheesan, 61, was joined by a 20-member ministry that included PK Kunhalikutty, Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan and KA Thulasi, who took oath last.