Incumbent Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday met outgoing Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan at the latter’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, signaling a symbolic end to one of the toughest election cycles in the state’s history.
When Sathisan arrived at Vijayan’s rented house this morning, the 81-year-old came out to greet the Congress president-designate, and the two leaders gave the crowd of waiting media persons a memorable, friendly moment, as they stood with their hands interlocked and a smile. The Left leader’s family, including wife Kamala, daughter Veena and grandson Vijayan, accompanied Vijayan in welcoming the victorious Congress leader. Upon entering the house, the loud rhetoric during the election campaign was replaced by a quiet exchange of common pleasantries over a cup of hot tea or coffee that the two leaders were seen drinking.
The meeting comes just days after the United Democratic Front (UDF) registered a return to power in the state with a landslide victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, in which it won 102 of the total 140 seats, marking a decisive end to a decade of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule.
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After his meeting with Vijayan, Sathisan told reporters: “Pinarayi Vijayan is the biggest leader in Kerala politics. We may not be able to stand together on every issue, but we should be able to unite for matters that matter to the state. I hope that will be possible. The ongoing development projects will not change.”
He also emphasized continuity in governance and ongoing development projects, indicating that the initiatives launched by previous governments will not stop.
“It is a continuation of previous governments. If one government cancels what another government offered, how can Kerala come forward? I have invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.
Meanwhile, referring to the difficult financial situation of the state and the country, Sathesan said that he would avoid all splendor and directed that only the minimum necessary security be provided to him. He said he knew he would be taking out Z-plus insurance and asked police to provide as few vehicles as possible. “Less than can be counted on the fingers of one hand,” he told reporters after a joint meeting with various religious leaders in Thiruvananthapuram.
“Maybe those before me needed it, and I don’t,” he said, adding that he had also instructed the police not to disturb people on the road while he was travelling. “If you travel in a great way, people may not express it openly, but they make fun of it secretly,” he said, adding that if there is a display of extravagance, “those below us will do it too, and the state treasury will not be able to bear this burden.”
“When the financial situation is as bad as it is currently, we should set an example by reducing extravagance as much as possible,” Sathisan said.
After meeting a group of religious leaders, including representatives of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, Sathisean said he rose to the position of Prime Minister because of collective prayer, and said he believed it was a “divine mission”. Leaders, including representatives of Santigiri Ashram, Palayam Jumma Mosque and Christian Trust Services Association, approached him and expressed their appreciation for Sathisean’s stand to promote secularism and communal harmony.
“As I said earlier, I consider my position as chief minister to be a divine mission. Any attempts to spoil the communal harmony in the state will be strongly resisted,” Sathisan said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi announced at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday that the soon-to-be 62-year-old Sathisean is his choice as the next chief minister of Kerala, bringing an end to more than 10 days of suspense after the state assembly election results were announced on May 4.
Following the Congress announcement, the CPI (Maoist) state committee yesterday unanimously elected Vijayan as Leader of the Opposition in the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, in a complete reversal of roles from the previous assembly.
Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after the announcement, Sathisan said the people of Kerala have sent a strong message in favor of secularism by ruling the Assembly elections and asserted that attempts to spread hatred in the state will not succeed.
“Some people are trying to start a hate campaign in Kerala. This is a secular Kerala. The result of these elections is that the people of Kerala will declare to the entire country that our state is secular. We will keep it that way.”
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Swami Gururaithnam Jnana Thapasoy said, “VD Sathisan is a person who has always given utmost importance to the secular fabric of Thiruvananthapuram. He is someone who interacts with all religions equally and with the same sense of respect. A group of spiritual leaders from Thiruvananthapuram have arrived to congratulate and bless him. We hope that his new charge will become a matter of pride for Malayalees all over the world.”
Meanwhile, today after his meeting with Vijayan, Sathisan also went to the house of Ramesh Chennithala, the MLA-elect from Haripad constituency and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly before him. The senior Congress leader, who is one of the three nominated for the prime ministership along with Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal, was absent from the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting headed by Sathisean yesterday and instead visited the Guruvayur temple in Thrissur.
Describing Chennithala as a ‘big brother’, Sathisan said, “This is a meeting between two brothers. When I was a student, he was my leader, and now he is my leader too without a doubt. He blessed me to take up this position and said his blessings and support will always be with me.”
Asked whether Chennithala would be part of the government, the chief minister-designate said it would be decided by the Congress party. He added, “The party leaders will discuss the matter with him. After getting his opinion, we will take a decision. Only then will the party take a final decision.” Moreover, Chennithala today also paid a visit to the residence of his mentor late G Karthikeyan and met Congress MP MT Sulekha’s wife and son Congress leader K Sabarinadhan.
Upon meeting Sulekha, Sathisean was moved, prompting her to console him, saying, “The Prime Minister should not cry like this.” It was Karthikeyan who insisted on contesting the Assembly elections in 1996 and 2001, Sathisean told reporters after the visit.
While he tasted defeat in 1996, losing to P Raju, he has won every successive Assembly election since then. Satheesan also met former AK Antony to seek blessings and discuss the upcoming leadership. Other leaders whom the newly appointed Chief Minister met today included Kerala Congress leader BJ Joseph.
Sathisan arrived in Kochi late this evening and then visited senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi at his residence.
While singer MG Sreekumar visited Satheesan at Aluva Palace.
