Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday distributed portfolios among the new Cabinet ministers. Satheesan has kept several major departments like Finance, Law, Ports and General Administration with himself.

Kerala Lok Bhavan issued a notification announcing the portfolio allocation. The Kerala CM will oversee a total of 35 departments, including crucial ports and finance, solidifying his control over the government

  • VD Satheesan will hold Finance, National Savings, Stores Purchase, Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Income Tax, Treasuries, Lotteries, State Audit, Kerala State Financial Enterprises, State Insurance, Kerala Financial Corporation, Stamps and Stamp Duties, Ports, Law, Planning and Economic Affairs, General Administration, All India Services, Science and Technology, Disaster Management, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, Pollution Control, Scientific Institutes, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Election, Integration, Sainik Welfare, Distress Relief, State Hospitality, Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice, Airports, Metro Rail, Inter-State River Waters, Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation, Information and Public Relations, Printing and Stationery, Railways, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Posts and Telegraphs.
  • Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has been given the charge of the Home and Vigilance departments, along with Fire and Rescue Services, Prisons and Coir.
  • Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty has been allocated 6 departments: Industries and Commerce, Information Technology, Mining and Geology, Artificial Intelligence, Startups, and Handlooms and Textiles.
  • Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph has been entrusted with the Electricity, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs ministries.

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  • Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan has been allocated seven departments. He will head Health, Devaswoms, Food Safety and Medical Education.
  • Roji M John will head Higher Education
  • AP Anil Kumar will oversee Land and Revenue.
  • N Shamsudheen will be the General Education Minister.
  • Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a key United Democratic Front (UDF) ally, MLA Shibu Baby John will be heading Forests and Wildlife Protection and Skill Development.
  • Kerala Congress (Joseph) MLA Mon Joseph will oversee Irrigation, Ground Water, Water Supply and Sanitation, and Housing departments.

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As part of the process, CM Satheesan recommended the names and their respective portfolios to Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar following the swearing-in ceremony held on May 18.

On Wednesday, Lok Bhavan said that the recommendations have now received the governor’s approval.