Kerala: VD Satheesan takes over; free bus travel for women among major decisions announced

Bengaluru: Kerala's new chief minister VD Satheesan hit the ground running, turning UDF's main election promises into government's flagship programmes within hours after taking oath on Monday.

The CM, after chairing the first Cabinet meeting, announced free bus travel for women in the state-run KSRTC buses effective June 15, replicating the Congress regime's popular Shakti programme in Karnataka.

The new UDF regime also cleared a Rs 3000 hike in the honorarium for Asha workers in a major relief for which they had been on streets for years. Satheesan said he wanted to first end their plight. The next increase for them will come with retirement benefits, the government said.


The Cabinet approved a new department (portfolio) for the welfare of senior citizens.

The government, in another significant decision, increased the monthly remuneration for Anganwadi teachers, cooking workers, pre-primary teachers and Ayas (assistants in schools) by Rs 1000.

Amid concerns over the financial burden the new programmes arising from the UDF's election promises will impose on the government, the chief minister said he will soon publish a white paper on Kerala's financial situation.

Earlier in the day, Satheesan and his 20-member Cabinet took oath in the presence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukh.

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, pledged that the UDF government will represent the voice of Keralites, while crediting AICC general secretary KC Venugopal for leading the campaign.

On Monday, in one go, Satheesan filled all 21 Cabinet positions (including himself). The Cabinet includes 14 first time ministers, two women and two SC members. The IUML got five Cabinet berths.

The new ministers are: PK Kunhalikutty, Ramesh Chennithala, Sunny Joseph, K Muraleedharan, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, N Samsudheen, PC Vishnunadh, Roji Mo John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KM Shaji, PK Basheer, VE Abdul Gafoor, T Siddique, KA Thulasi and OJ Janeesh.