Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) defeated the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the recently-concluded assembly elections.
Kerala Governor Justice P. Sathasivam gave Vijayan, the son of a toddy tapper, oath of office in presence of CPI (M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Parakash Karat, former chief minister V.S. Achutanandan and ace actor Mammootty at a glittering ceremony at the Central Stadium here.
Besides Vijayan, 11 CPI (M) MLAs, four CPI and one each from Congress (S), NCP and Janata Dal (S) were sworn-in as Cabinet members.
CPI treasurer E. Chandrasekharan, who won from Kanhangad, took the oath as Revenue Minister; Thiruvalla legislator Mathew T. Thomas of JD(S) took oath as Water Resources Minister; Elathoor MLA A.K. Saseendran of the NCP took oath as Transport Minister.
Kadannappalli Ramachandran took oath as Ports Minister; A.K. Balan as Law, Culture and SC/ST Minister; K.T. Jaleel as Minister for Local Self Government; E.P. Jayarajan of CPI(M) as Sports and Industry Minister; Mercykutty Amma as the Fisheries Minister; and Kadakampalli Surendran as Minister for Electricity and Devaswoms.
The CPI (M)-led LDF came back to power after five years, winning 91 against 47 of the UDF in the 140-member House.
The CPI (M) earlier sidelined Achutanandan whom the party dubbed as 'Fidel Castro' of Kerala to select Vijayan, the legislator from Dharmadom, as the chief ministerial candidate.
For the first time in the history of Kerala assembly, the BJP has opened account by securing one seat, while an Independent candidate also won on one seat.
