New Kerala govt to be sworn-in on Thursday

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his 20 ministers will be sworn in on Thursday at the Central Stadium in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram at 3.30 pm.

Thiruvananthapuram: The historic second consecutive term of the Left Government led by Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala is all set to be sworn in on Thursday. The swearing-in ceremony is to begin at 3.30 pm at Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium under Covid guidelines. All the guests would be allowed entry to the venue only after verifying their Covid negative certificate or full vaccination certificate.

The Chief Minister and his 20 Ministers in the new cabinet would take the oath of allegiance in the presence of State Governor Arif Muhammed Khan.

Only 500 guests would be allowed at the swearing-in venue.

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala is under a triple lockdown considering the Covid-19 status. The new Government has already faced severe criticism from all quarters for permitting about 500 persons for the swearing-in ceremony.

United Democratic Front (UDF), the main opposition, may not boycott the ceremony, but would rather watch the ceremony online considering the Covid-19 situation, it has been informed.

Public Interest Litigations have also been moved at the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court against the participation of 500 persons at the oath-taking ceremony.

Twelve ministers from the CPIM, including the Chief Minister, four Ministers from the CPI, and five ministers from other LDF allies - one each from the Janatha Dal S, Kerala Congress M, Janadhipathya Kerala Congress, Indian National League, and the Nationalist Congress Party - would take the oath.

Only one person from each media outlet would only be allowed at the ceremony. Television channel cameras will not be permitted at the venue.

Guests must have an invitation and a valid RT-PCR negative certificate or the certificate for having been fully inoculated.