The LDF government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office for its second consecutive term on May 20, 2021 after Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to Vijayan and his 20 cabinet colleagues at an event at the central stadium. Vijayan, who is the first Chief Minister in Kerala to get a second consecutive mandate, began his second innings with 17 new faces in the 21-member cabinet — eight ministers are first-time legislators. The Cabinet has three women members now. Vijayan had dropped all CPI(M) ministers from his previous regime, recruiting a new team as Kerala battles the pandemic. Less than 500 people attended the event due to Covid-19 protocols. The Congress had opposed the event citing Covid restrictions and the party-led UDF boycotted it on May 20, 2021. Born in Kannur in May 1945, he was actively involved with the Communist party of Kerala since he was a college student. He became member of CPI(M) Kannur district committee at a young age of 24 and went on to be become District Secretariat four years later. He was elected to the State Legislative Assembly four times- 1970, 1977, 1991 and 1996. As an active member of the Communist party in Kerala, he gave leadership to two of the most significant political campaigns in the state- the Kerala march of 2006 and the Nava Kerala march of 2009.