Kerala cabinet portfolios out: CM Satheesan keeps Finance, Chennithala gets Home

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan retained the Finance and Law portfolios along with several key departments after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar approved the portfolio allocation of the newly sworn-in UDF government.

In Short

• Satheesan also oversees key departments like Ports, Metro Rail and Pollution Control
• Ramesh Chennithala gets Home, Vigilance and Fire Services portfolios
• Satheesan denies delay in portfolio allocation, says all settled by Monday night

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan retained the Finance and Law portfolios along with several key departments after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar approved the portfolio recommendations of the newly sworn-in UDF government on Wednesday.

According to the portfolio allocation, Satheesan will also handle Kerala Financial Corporation, Ports, Pollution Control, Airports, Metro Rail and Railways. In addition, the Chief Minister will oversee all important policy matters and subjects not specifically allocated to any other department.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala received the Home portfolio along with Vigilance, Fire and Rescue Services, Prisons and Coir.

KPCC chief Sunny Joseph was assigned Electricity, Environment, Parliamentary Affairs and ANERT. Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan took charge of Health, Medical Education, Medical University, Ayush, Drugs Control and Devaswoms.

AP Anilkumar received the portfolios of Land Revenue, Survey and Land Records and Land Reforms. Congress leader PC Vishnunadh was allotted Tourism, Culture and Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).

M Liju will handle Co-operation and Excise, while Roji M John was assigned Collegiate Education, Technical Education, Universities excluding Agricultural, Veterinary, Fisheries, Medical and Digital Universities, Entrance Examination, National Cadet Corps and Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) Kerala.

T Siddique received Agriculture, Soil Survey and Soil Conservation, Kerala Agricultural University and Warehousing Corporation. K A Thulasi was given charge of Development of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes.

Bindhu Krishna will oversee Labour, Animal Husbandry, Milk Co-operatives and Woman and Child Development. O J Janeesh received Sports, Youth Affairs, Zoos and Museum.

IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty was assigned the Industries and Commerce, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence portfolios. N Samsudheen will head General Education, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage and Minority Welfare.

KM Shaji received Panchayat and Rural Development, while PK Basheer was allotted the Public Works Department. VE Abdul Gafoor was assigned Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Social Justice.

Mons Joseph will oversee Irrigation, while Anoop Jacob received Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology. Revolutionary Socialist Party MLA Shibu Baby John was allotted Forests and Wildlife Protection, and CMPKSC MLA CP John received Road Transport, Motor Vehicles and Water Transport.

The portfolio details were circulated through a gazette notification after the Governor approved the Chief Minister’s recommendations. The UDF ministers had taken oath on May 18.

Addressing a press conference earlier, Satheesan rejected reports of any delay in finalising the portfolios. He said all disagreements regarding the allocation of departments were resolved by Monday night itself after the swearing-in ceremony.

The Chief Minister said the Governor was away in Thrissur on Tuesday and returned to the state capital only later that night. Satheesan said the government submitted the final list of portfolios to the Governor on Wednesday morning.

- Ends