Ernakulam district has secured a significant presence in the V.D. Satheesan-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government that will be sworn in on Monday.
Besides Mr. Satheesan, there will be three Ministers from the district in the State Cabinet.
Angamaly MLA Roji M. John, Piravom legislator Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob), and the representative of Kalamassery, V. E. Abdul Gafoor of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) will take oath as Ministers in the government. The portfolios of the Ministers have not been notified yet, though indications are that Mr. Satheesan will hold finance, law, and ports besides general administration.
V.E. Abdul Gafoor
Among the four, Mr. Jacob, a four-time legislator, is the only one with previous ministerial experience, with the remaining three making their debut into the Cabinet.
Mr. John registered his third consecutive win from Angamaly this time, while Mr. Gafoor won from Kalamassery after tasting defeat in his maiden contest in 2021.
Anoop Jacob
Mr. John recorded a thumping win in his third contest by 37,008 votes against CPI(M)’s Saju Paul.
Mr. John has been the AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka since 2022. He is also a member of the Congress’ Political Affairs Committee in the State. Having started his political career through the Kerala Students Union, he was elected the chairman of the student union of SH College, Thevara, in 2001-02. He was appointed as the national president of the NSUI in 2014.
Mr. Jacob, the 48-year-old chief and the lone MLA of the KC(J), has found his way to the Cabinet for the second time after being the Minister for Civil Supplies in the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government of 2011-16. He made his electoral debut in the 2012 bypoll necessitated by the death of his father T.M. Jacob, who was the siting MLA. Mr. Anoop, a lawyer, won the latest election by a whopping margin of 44,681 votes against Kerala Congress (M)’s Sabu K. Jacob.
Mr. Gafoor emerged a giant killer in the election defeating CPI(M) leader P. Rajeeve, who was the Industries Minister in the previous government. He defeated Mr. Rajeeve by 16,312 votes as the two came face to face for the second time in a keenly-watched contest. Mr. Gafoor is the son of late V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, an IUML veteran and the Public Works Minister in the 2011-16 UDF government.
Mr. Gafoor is the district general secretary of the IUML and heads several units of the party’s trade unions. He has been practising as a lawyer since 2000.
Published – May 18, 2026 01:07 am IST
