As Pinarayi Vijayan took oath as Kerala's 12th Chief Minister today, celebrations erupted across the state, especially in the northern Kannur district, considered a Marxist stronghold.
Jubilant CPI(M) workers raised 'Lal Salam' slogans carrying red flags and beat drums expressing their joy as the LDF government took charge after the swearing-in ceremony.
Vijayan was given a rousing welcome at the Secretariat as he arrived to attend his first Cabinet meeting shortly after the swearing-in ceremony at the Central Stadium.
Vijayan's wife Kamala, their son and daughter were among those who attended the ceremony.
The capital city looked a sea of red with red flags and red buntings dotting the landscape.
Party workers from various parts of the state have converged here to see Vijayan's swearing-in.
Since this morning, it was an air of festivity in various parts of Kannur district, including Pinarayi, from where Vijayan hails, as party workers distributed sweets and 'payasam' (a sweet broth made of jaggery and rice).
Besides Vijayan, E P Jayarajan, K K Shylaja, Ramachandran Kadannapalli hail from Kannur district.
The two northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod had witnessed violence with CPI(M)-BJP workers clashing as soon as the results of the May 16 Assembly polls were out.
Prohibitory orders are still in force in Kasaragod district's, Manjeshwaram, Kasaragod and Hosgurg areas.
