Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) completed the allocation of portfolios in the newly formed Congress-led government, designating important Ministries to various senior leaders from both the Congress party and IUML.
The 20 Ministers in the Kerala UDF Cabinet are Ramesh Chennithala, P.K. Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, K. Muraleedharan, M. Liju, Roji M John, P.C. Vishnunadh, Bindu Krishna, A.P. Anil Kumar, O.J. Janeesh, K.A. Thulasi, T. Siddique, K.M. Shaji, N. Samsudheen, P.K. Basheer, V.E. Abdul Gafoor, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, C.P. John, and Anoop Jacob, apart from the CM.
Here’s the full list of Cabinet Ministers and their respective portfolios.
V.D. Satheesan – Chief Minister
V. D. Satheesan (Vadassery Damodaran Satheesan) secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, winning a substantial margin of 20,600 votes as he secured 78,658 votes. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he has represented the Paravur constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly since 2001 and previously served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2026.
Mr. Satheesan retained key departments including Finance, National Savings, Stores Purchase, Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Income Tax, Treasuries, Lotteries, State Audit, Kerala State Financial Enterprises, State Insurance, Kerala Financial Corportion, Stamps and Stamp Duties, Ports, Law, Planning and Economic Affairs, General Administration, All India Services, Science, Technology, Pollution Control, Scientific Institutes, Personel and Administration Reforms, Election, Integration, Saink Welfare, Distress Relief, State Hospitality, Administration of Civil & 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, Welfare of Minorities, All Important Policy Matters, and Subjects not mentioned elsewhere.
Ramesh Chennithala
Mr. Chennithala is a senior Congress party member in Kerala. He had served as the Leader of the Opposition, the Home Minister of the State, and has been a Member of Parliament (MP) multiple times.
He has been assigned with Home, Vigilance, Fire and Rescue Services, Prisons & Coir.
Sunny Joseph
Mr. Joseph is a legislator representing the Peravoor constituency in Kannur district. He is known for his strong organisational roots in north Kerala.
He is allotted Electricity, Environment, Parliamentary Affairs and ANERT.
K. Muraleedharan
A heavyweight leader, former MP, and former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President. He will oversee Health, Medical Education, Medical University, Indigenous Medicine, Ayush and Drugs Control, and Food Safety & Devaswoms.
M. Liju
Mr. Liju is known for his background in the Youth Congress and regular representation of the party in media and state-level organisational campaigns. He is given charge of Co-operation and Excise.
Roji M. John
Mr. John is a legislator representing the Angamaly constituency. He has served as the national president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) before entering State legislative politics. He is assigned with Collegeate Education, Technical Education, Universities (Except Agriculture, Veterinary, Fisheries, Medical and Digitial Universities), Entrance Examination, National Cadet Corps and Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP).
P.C. Vishnunadh
P.C. Vishnunadh is a Congress leader representing the Kundara constituency. He previously served as the Vice President of the Youth Congress. His portfolio includes Tourism, Culture, Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), Kerala Chalachithra Academy, and Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board.
Bindu Krishna
Ms. Krishna has served as the Kollam District Congress Committee (DCC) President and as a national leader of the Mahila Congress. She has been allotted the departments of Labour, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Milk Co-operatives, Women & Child care and Kerala veterinary and animal sciences university.
A.P. Anil Kumar
Mr Kumar is a senior leader and legislator representing Wandoor. He has prior cabinet experience, having served as the Minister for Tourism and Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Communities in previous UDF governments.
His portfolio includes Land and Revenue, Survey and Land Records, and Land Reforms.
O.J. Janeesh
Mr. Janeesh is a rising leader in the party that is seen as being part of the newer generation of leadership being integrated into the State’s top executive tier. He has been assigned Sports, Youth Affairs, Zoos, Museum, Registration, Archaeology, and Archives
K.A. Thulasi
K.A. Thulasi is bringing representation and focus to local governance and grassroots party development. He is given charge of development of Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes and Backward classes.
T. Siddique
Mr. Siddique is a legislator from Kalpetta (Wayanad) and a Working President of the KPCC. He handles Agriculture, Soil Survey & Soil Conservation, Kerala Agricultural university, and Warehousing Corporation.
P.K. Kunhalikutty
He is the parliamentary party leader of the Indian Union Muslim League. He has previously served as the Minister for Industries in multiple UDF cabinets.
He is assigned Industries & Commerce, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Startups, Mining and Geology, and Handlooms & Textiles.
N. Samsudheen
Mr. Samsudheen is a legislator representing the Mannarkkad constituency. He is designated with the responsibility of overseeing General Education, Literacy Movement, Wakf and Haj pilgrimage & Minority Welfare.
K.M. Shaji
He is an IUML leader representing the Azhikode constituency. His portfolio includes Panchayat, Municipality, Corporation, Town Planning, Rural Development, Regional Development Authorities, and KILA.
P.K. Basheer
He is a senior legislator from the IUML representing the Eranad constituency in Malappuram. He oversees Public Works Department.
V.E. Abdul Gafoor
He is a rising leader within the IUML and associated with the party’s efforts to maintain its strongholds. He is given charge of Fisheries, Habour Engineering, and Social Justice.
Mons Joseph
Mr. Joseph is a senior leader of the Kerala Congress faction within the UDF, representing the Kaduthuruthy constituency. He is allotted Irrigation, Command Area Development Authority (CADA), and Ground Water, Water Supply & Sanitation and Housing.
Anoop Jacob
Mr. Jacob is a leader of the Kerala Congress(Jacob) faction and a legislator from Piravom. He oversees Food & Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, and Legal Metrology.
Shibu Baby John
He is the leader of the Revolutionary Socialist Party in Kerala and a former Minister of Labour and Employment in the State. His portfolio includes Forests & Wild Protection, Skill Development, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE).
C.P. John
Mr. John is a leader of the CMP and a trusted UDF ally who has previously served on the Kerala State Planning Board. He has been assigned Road Transport, Motor Vehicles, and Water Transport.
