Thiruvananthapuram, May 17: Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan on Sunday unveiled a 20-member cabinet ahead of the swearing-in of the new government, comprising experienced leaders and 14 first-time ministers, including two women and two members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Addressing a press conference after submitting the list of ministers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan, Satheesan said the names were finalised after discussions among alliance leaders, taking into account social and regional balance within the coalition.
As many as 14 members of the cabinet are new faces. The ministers announced include senior Congress leaders and former ministers Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, and AP Anil Kumar, besides KPCC chief Sunny Joseph. Senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, RSP leader Shibu Baby John, Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob will also be ministers.
All of them have served as ministers in the previous UDF government.
The new faces in the cabinet are C P John and IUML leaders N Shamsuddin, K M Shaji, P K Basheer, and V E Abdul Gafoor.
Congress leaders PC Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, KA Thulasi, and OJ Janeesh are also among the new ministers from the party.
The UDF has also decided to appoint senior legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker. (PTI)
