Pinarayi Vijayan sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala for second time

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to 76-year-old Vijayan in a low-key function at the Central Stadium

Scripting history, the LDF government in Kerala led by Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday was sworn in for the second consecutive time.

It is after a gap of 40 years and the first time after the formation of the present CPM-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala that a front was able to retain power in Kerala.

In the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the LDF won 99 seats, which is eight more than that of the 91 seats secured in 2016. Social welfare and development initiatives of the LDF government led by Vijayan was a highlight of the election outcome.

Vijayan and 20 members of the Cabinet, including three women, took the oath from Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at a function in Thiruvananthapuram. Participation at the event was restricted to less than 500 to maintain social distancing. The High Court had also directed the government to keep the participation at the event to the minimum possible and to ensure Covid-19 protocols were followed. UDF leaders stayed away from the event citing the Covid-19 situation.

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After the swearing-in ceremony, the ministers proceeded to the Raj Bhavan for a customary reception by the Governor. The first Cabinet meeting would be held at the Secretariat afterwards.

In the 21-member Cabinet, 12, including Vijayan, are from the CPM, four from the CPI and five from coalition partners. Apart from four, all are first time members of the Cabinet.

Even as the formal announcement of portfolios of ministers was awaited, the youngest member and journalist-turned politician Veena George is most likely to be the health minister, replacing K K Shailaja. Vijayan's son-in-law Mohamed Riyas, who is DYFI national president, is also included in the cabinet and he is likely to given the tourism and public work portfolio.

The Chief Minister might be retaining key portfolios like Home and Information Technology. Former Rajya Sabha MPs K N Balagopal and P Rajeev and former Kerala speaker K Radhakrishnan are among the members of the Cabinet.