Oommen Chandy sworn in as Kerala CM

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as the 21st chief minister of Kerala on Wednesday at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. Along with Chandy, six floor leaders of the United Democratic Front  coalition were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor R S Gavai at the lawns of the Raj Bhavan.

The UDF unseated the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front by securing a thin majority of 72 seats in the 140-member House after April 13 Assembly polls. Those sworn in as ministers were P K Kunhalikutty (Indian Union Muslim League), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (Socialist Janata Democratic), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (Revolutionary Socialist Party-B).

The ministry will be expanded on May 23 with the induction nine Congress nominees, three representatives of IUML and one more from Kerala Congress (Mani). Chandy's predecessor and CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony.

A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in. Chandy is becoming Chief Minister for the second time after an interim term in 2004-06. The UDF had on Tuesday wrapped up an agreement with its partners on sharing the ministerial berths and portfolios.