The cabinet has decided to reduce petrol price by Rs 1.22 per litre by forgoing the tax that would accrue to the state from the recent hike in petrol price. It also decided to provide relief of Rs one lakh to the families of 486 persons who reportedly died due to use of endosulfan pesticide in Kasargode district.
Along with Chandy, Governor R S Gavai administered the oath of office and secrecy to P K Kunhalikutty (IUML), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (SJD), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B).
Chandy is the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala.The cabinet would be expanded on May 23 by induction of nine ministers from the Congress, three from IUML and two from the Kerala Congress (Mani).
Chandy's predecessor and CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony.A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in.