New Kerala Cabinet: UDF portfolio talks run into headwinds as allies grow restive

The newly sworn-in Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s attempt to finalise Kerala Cabinet portfolios appeared to run into headwinds on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). 

The UDF had hinted on Monday that it had reached a broad agreement among various factions in the Congress and crucial allies on portfolio allocation. Notably, senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and K. Muraleedharan signalled that they would hold the Home and Health portfolios, respectively. 

However, the apparent dawdling in announcing the appointments in the government gazette with constitutional finality suggests that haggling over ministerial portfolios continued unabated in the UDF. 

On Tuesday, Mani C. Kappan, MLA-elect from Pala in Kottayam district in central Kerala, signalled to television reporters that UDF allies, including his party, were getting restive over “unresolved questions” about the allocation.

Term-sharing formula questioned

He also seemed to question the contentious term-sharing formula prescribed for single-party MLAs, with some “unusual” exceptions, notably that for Minister and Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C.P. John.

Somewhat ominously, Mr. Kappan attributed his non-inclusion in the Cabinet, despite being a three-term MLA who routed Kerala Congress (M) chairperson and Left Democratic Front (LDF) leader Jose K. Mani, for the second consecutive time, to objections “raised by a UDF ally”.

“I had met Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday, along with Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob), and said we were in concurrence to share a ministerial berth on a two-and-a-half-year period, on a sharing basis. Mr. Satheesan promised me an honourable position till Mr. Jacob completes his term. However, there has been no further word from the leadership”, he added.

According to a UDF insider, the finalisation of portfolios appeared to be “stuck” due to the Latin Catholic Church’s insistence that the Congress keep the Fisheries portfolio, tentatively promised to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). He said the IUML has agreed to allow the Congress to hold the portfolio in exchange for the Higher Education department, which is currently promised to Roji M. John, a Congress Minister.

Notably, Mr. Satheesan had made a dash for the official residence of the Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop, Thomas J. Netto, hours after his swearing in on Monday, reportedly to placate the Latin Catholic Church leadership, which had taken strong exception to the non-inclusion of a member of the coastal community in the Cabinet.

Moreover, the UDF was facing pressure from within its rank and file, angry about the alleged incongruity in the regional allocation of seats, with some districts lacking representation in the Cabinet, while other regions, like Kollam, getting three Ministers.

When contacted, the Chief Minister’s office said the government would soon announce “a consensus decision.”