Kerala cabinet reshuffle on the cards as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan eyes strategic realignment

As the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) appears poised for a third consecutive term, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is considering a minor cabinet reshuffle to fine-tune the government ahead of next year’s crucial local and assembly elections, according to local media reports.

LDF convenor TP Ramakrishnan has exuded confidence in retaining power, reinforcing speculation that Vijayan is preparing to refresh his team with a mix of portfolio changes and new ministerial faces.

The development also coincides with a leadership shuffle in the opposition Congress, where party president and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran has been elevated as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. His loyalist, Sunny Joseph, has replaced him in the party leadership — both leaders hail from Kannur, which is also Vijayan’s political stronghold and a CPI(M) bastion.

Reports suggest that the reshuffle may be linked to the rising profile of Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas, Vijayan’s son-in-law. Observers speculate that Riyas and Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian — both close to the Chief Minister — could be replaced.

Another likely entrant is Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer, whose induction into the cabinet could open the door for former Health Minister KK Shailaja to take over as Speaker. If appointed, Shailaja would become the first woman to hold the position in Kerala.

Names of other potential ministers include PP Chitharanjan (Alappuzha), Thottathil Ravindran (Kozhikode), and K Ansalan (Thiruvananthapuram), all viewed as politically significant picks to balance regional and caste equations.

A political analyst noted, “Vijayan has mastered the art of social engineering. A reshuffle now could help the LDF recalibrate its appeal just as the Congress begins its own realignment.”

Removing Riyas and Cherian from cabinet roles could also be a tactical move to assign them larger responsibilities within the CPI(M), particularly given their positions in the party’s state secretariat. “It would counter criticism that Riyas leapfrogged senior leaders into the ministry,” the analyst added.