In the southernmost Indian state of Keralam (formerly Kerala), the Congress party has returned to power after a period of 10 years after securing a decisive mandate in the assembly elections. In 2016 and again in 2021, Left parties defeated the Congress in Keralam for two consecutive terms and successfully governed the state under the leadership of their senior leader, Pinarayi Vijayan. In the recently concluded assembly elections, the Congress-led alliance won 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly; of these, the Congress party alone secured 63 seats under the leadership of its state president, V.D. Satheesan. Setting aside the claim of close aides and senior state leader—such as K.C. Venugopal , and also the senior most MLA Ramesh Chennithala—Rahul Gandhi entrusted the office of State Chief Minister to the 61-year-old V.D. Satheesan.
{Note: This article of mine was published in the September 2026 issue of the Express Star Teller magazine. The same has bee reproduce here for the readers of this blog}.
From an astrological perspective, V.D. Satheesan very astutely selected the day of Monday—as the auspicious ‘Muhurata’ (propitious time) for his swearing-in ceremony, choosing a moment when the Moon was positioned in the Rohini Nakshatra which is classified as ‘Dhruva’ or ‘fixed’ constellation. As per ‘Muhurata Chintamani’ the Rohini Nakshatra is favored for the coronation of kings. However, the rising sign in the lagna is Cancer which is a Prishtodaya (back-rising) sign which is not much favored for oath taking ceremony.
Chart 1. Oath Taking Horoscope of V.D. Satheesan
V.D. Satheesan to Govern Keralam on the Strength of the ‘Ruchaka Mahapurusha Yoga’
On the May 18th , 2026, at 10:20 AM in Thiruvananthapuram—the capital of Keralam—Congress leader V.D. Satheesan achieved a major milestone in his political career by taking the oath of office as Chief Minister. His swearing-in took place amidst an auspicious confluence of astrological factors: the ‘Dwitiya Tithi’ (second day) of the ‘Shukla Paksha’ (waxing phase of the moon), the ‘Sukarma Yoga’, the ‘Kaulava Karana’, and the Moon’s placement in the Rohini Nakshatra. From the perspective of the ‘Panchang’ (almanac) and ‘Muhurata’ principles, while the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam took their oaths recently during the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (waning phase) earlier this May, V.D. Satheesan of Keralam stands out—from an astrological standpoint—as the most fortunate among them, having received the opportunity to take his oath of office during the ‘Shukla Paksha’, under the benevolent influence of auspicious planets and constellations.
V.D. Satheesan’s swearing-in horoscope features a Cancer Ascendant (‘Karka Lagna’) rising at the horizon, wherein Mars—positioned in its own sign, Aries—is situated in the Tenth House (the house of authority and governance), thereby forming the powerful ‘Ruchaka Mahapurusha Yoga’. The Ascendant Lord (‘Lagnesh’), is placed in the eleventh House (the house of gains and fulfillment). The conjunction of the Moon with the Sun and Mercury is auspicious. The placement of Venus in the twelfth house, alongside a Vargottama Jupiter, will enable V.D. Satheesan to allocate funds towards public welfare schemes. Jupiter here as the lord of the 9th house in the 12th shows spending money on the welfare scheme in just and prudent manner.
In the oath-taking horoscope, the Vargottama status of the Cancer Ascendant—coupled with the Moon’s placement in its own Navamsa sign of Cancer—constitutes a powerful ‘Raja Yoga’. Drawing strength from this celestial configuration, V.D. Satheesan will not only complete his five-year tenure with ease but may also witness a surge in his popularity as an able administrator.
‘Difficulties Arising from Religious Disputes in 2027–28’
In the oath-taking horoscope of Kerala’s new Chief Minister, V.D. Satheesan, the malefic planet Saturn is positioned in the ninth house—the sector governing religious affairs, higher education institutions, and the judiciary. Saturn as the lord of the 6th and 7th houses is hemmed in between Rahu, situated in the preceding sign, and Mars, situated in the succeeding sign. Since all other planets are positioned between the Rahu-Ketu axis, a ‘Kala Sarpa Yoga’ is being formed in V.D. Satheesan’s oath-taking chart, which may give rise to unnecessary controversies. Due to the influence of this inauspicious planetary combination, the years 2027 and 2028—specifically when Saturn transits into the sign of Aries—may witness religious disputes within Kerala; furthermore, the state government may face setbacks arising from judicial verdicts.
However, since the lord of the 10th house is strong in Navamsha and Dashamasha in the oath taking of V.D. Satheesan so his government will recover from these setbacks. Most importantly the oath taking chart get the support of favorable Vimshottari Dasha. The Maha Dasha of the Moon is till 12 December 2026. Then the Maha Dasha of 5th and 10th lord Mars will come for the remaining period of this government which is also favorable. Due to the strong 5th (education) and 10th (administration) houses in Rashi, Navamsha and Dashamasha of oath taking the government is likely to do well in the areas of establishing higher education institutions, maintaining law and order, and civil administration with authority.
Chart 2. Foundation Horoscope of Keralam State
In the foundation horoscope of the State of Kerala (established on November 1, 1956, at midnight in Thiruvananthapuram), the Cancer Ascendant is rising. The Anter Dasha of Mars within Mercury’s major period (Maha Dasha) in 2027—followed by the inauspicious Anter Dasha (sub period) of Rahu within Mercury’s major period in 2028—is likely to trigger major controversies within the state, causing some discomfort to the government. However, strong astrological indications suggest that the ‘Raja Yoga’ present in Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s oath-taking chart will empower him to overcome all obstacles and successfully steer his government through its full five-year term.
Chart 3. Horoscope of Ramesh Chennithala
The birth details (10 June 1956, 00:15 hours at Allepey, Kerala0 of the senior most Kerala Congress leader and the current minister of home affairs in the state cabinet Ramesh Chennithala is different from his official records. As per the data with us he was born in Aquarius ascendant having 10th lord Mars placed in the lagna. Strong planets in mutual Kendra’s in his birth chart forms ‘Karaka Yoga’ as per Acharya Varahamihira’s Brihat Jataka. He won several Lok Sabha elections on the ticket of his party Congress in Kerala state. He is also a member of the Congress Working Committee the major decision-making body of his party.
The Maha Dasha of Ketu and Anter Dasha of the Sun is running in his Aquarius lagna horoscope from March 2026 to July 2026. Ketu is in the 4th house of throne along with the 7th lord the Sun and 5th lord Mercury. The conjunction of the Sun and Mercury is a decent Yoga for obtaining power. Saturn’s aspect from the 10th house on the 5th lord Mercury is a Raja Yoga. Since Maha Dasha lord Ketu is strong in Navamsha and Dasmasha charts so as a minister of home affairs the tenure of Ramesh Chennithala in Kerala will be successful.
