The sun had barely risen over the State capital when the roads leading to the Central Stadium began to fill with streams of people clad in white and tricolour scarves.

By 6 a.m., long before the formal programme commenced, the pavements around the venue had transformed into a sea of anticipation. Party workers, families and loyalists arrived from nearly every corner of Kerala to witness what many among them called a “historic return”.

Four hours later, beneath a giant pandal erected at the stadium, the United Democratic Front (UDF) government led by V.D. Satheesan was sworn in to mark the Congress-led coalition’s return to power after a decade in the opposition.

For thousands of UDF workers, the event was the culmination of years of political toil, electoral disappointments and relentless campaigning. Many had travelled overnight to reach the capital. Among them was Shabbir T.K., a Congress worker from Kasaragod’s Thrikkarippur, a constituency the UDF wrested after six decades.

“This day belongs to workers like me. We have toiled hard to bring the UDF back to power,” he said, standing amid a restless crowd near one of the barricaded entrances.

Supporters from Malappuram, Kasaragod and other far-off districts arrived in buses and vans through the night. Several had slept on pavements and at party offices before making their way to the venue by dawn.

The loudest cheers, however, appeared reserved for supporters from Paravur, Mr. Satheesan’s home constituency. They came in groups, chanting slogans and waving flags. Arun Kumar, one among the jubilant supporters, said: “We travelled with him across Kerala during the campaign. Seeing him take oath today feels personal.”

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere remained electric throughout the ceremony. Slogans erupted continuously as ministers-elect walked towards the dais, with certain leaders drawing particularly thunderous applause.

Massive turnout

Despite elaborate preparations, crowd management proved daunting. Police personnel struggled to contain the swelling numbers as attendees steadily poured into the venue. Several people managed to enter enclosures reserved for VIPs, as they squeezed past barricades and security lines in their eagerness to witness the event from closer quarters.

The stage itself reflected the frenzy surrounding the occasion. Though organisers had attempted to restrict access to dignitaries and ministers-elect, the dais eventually became densely packed with UDF workers, leaders, officials and security personnel alongside the Governor and visiting national leaders.

The massive turnout also strained the city’s infrastructure. Traffic across Thiruvananthapuram city descended into chaos for hours. Office-goers and attendees alike were forced to walk considerable distances after vehicles became trapped in diversions and bottlenecks at various locations.

Heat-related discomfort

Inside the pandal, the heat and humidity intensified as the morning progressed. The packed enclosure grew increasingly stuffy, with several attendees visibly uncomfortable and some reportedly developing uneasiness.

By the time the programme concluded around 11.30 a.m., exhausted supporters slowly spilled back onto the streets, clutching party flags and carrying water bottles.