VD Satheesan’s Sweeping Victory: A Secular Stand Against Hate in Kerala

VD Satheesan, soon to be sworn in as Kerala's Chief Minister, asserts a powerful mandate for secularism as reflected in the recent Assembly election results. He emphasized that any attempts to incite division or hatred in the state are bound to fail.

Addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan remarked on the ideological clash with the BJP, highlighting Congress's commitment to preserving secular principles amid accusations of the BJP's hate campaigns. These statements came a day after the Congress declared him as the state's next chief minister, following the United Democratic Front's (UDF) comprehensive triumph in the 2026 elections.

Satheesan is set to be inaugurated on May 18 at Lok Bhavan. The Congress-led UDF achieved a commanding victory, securing 102 of the 140 assembly seats, ending the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) decade-long governance. Prior to his leadership, Satheesan met Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar to affirm his claim to form the new government and later sought the counsel of veteran Congress leader V M Sudheeran, recognizing him as a pivotal influence in his political journey.

(With inputs from agencies.)