Kerala CM Satheesan Again Uses ‘Menon’ Surname During Swearing-In

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite criticism over his name, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheeshan once again used his full name while being sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

He had earlier taken oath as Chief Minister using his full name, “Vadassery Damodara Menon Satheeshan,” sparking controversy. Critics from within and outside Congress accused him of flaunting his upper caste “Menon” identity.

Notably, when he became an MLA in 2021, he had simply said, “I, V D Satheesan.” Party spokesperson Jinto John remarked that a Congress free of caste baggage would be more inclusive, adding that the CM should spend more time reading Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Many have questioned how “Menon,” which Satheeshan had never used before, suddenly appeared, with some suggesting it might be a deliberate move to assert his upper caste Hindu identity, especially amid repeated accusations from the CPM and BJP-Sangh Parivar about his rise to CM with support from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

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At a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Minister Satheesan responded emotionally to criticism about using his caste name. “What is wrong if I mention my father’s name while taking the oath? This is my father’s full name. I regret not being able to take my mother’s name as well. I would have to honor both my parents on such an important occasion in my life,” he said.

Meanwhile, newly elected MLAs began arriving at the Legislative Assembly Complex in the morning for the oath-taking ceremony. V D Satheesan took the Chief Minister’s chair, while his predecessor Pinarayi Vijayan assumed the Opposition Leader’s seat. In the front row sat UDF stalwarts P K Kunhalikutty and Ramesh Chennithala. The three newly elected BJP MLAs, all first-timers, entered the Assembly hall, marking the presence of a third force in the House.

Chandy Oommen, the MLA-designate from Puthupally, arrived on a bicycle with his supporters, wearing a T-shirt featuring a picture of his late father, Oommen Chandy, as he took the oath. Most of his campaign for the assembly elections was conducted on a cycle, symbolizing a fresh chapter in Kerala’s politics. The oath-taking ceremony was held in alphabetical order, with Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor being the first to take the oath, and O.S. Ambika becoming the first woman to do so.

People waited with great anticipation as Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan solemnly took the oath as an MLA and walked up to the Speaker’s podium. Given the animosity during the assembly election campaign, many wondered how G. Sudhakaran, elected as Pro Tem Speaker, would handle Pinarayi Vijayan. But both leaders showed great maturity, greeting each other with broad smiles and even a friendly pat.

While most MLAs took the oath in Malayalam, some chose English, Manjeswaram MLA A.K.M. Ashraf took it in Kannada, and Devikulam MLA F. Raja in Tamil.

BJP’s three newly elected MLAs Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V Muraleedharan and B B Gopakumar paid floral tributes at Martyr’s Column at Palayam before coming the assembly in a procession of workers.

The House was adjourned after the oath-taking ceremony of the MLAs, and will reconvene on Friday morning for the Speaker’s election. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, the UDF nominee, is poised to become the Speaker. The LDF has nominated former minister A. C. Moideen, while the BJP has entered the contest with its candidate B. B. Gopakumar, the newly elected MLA from Chathanoor.