Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Kerala CM Satheesan urges new-era Kerala pledge on Independence Day
On India's Independence Day, the leader of Kerala, V D Satheesan, raised the national flag at a big stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
He asked everyone in the state to make a promise to build a brand-new, better Kerala.
He wants Kerala to be a place full of kindness, tolerance, fairness, and hard work.
He remembered the people who lost their lives in recent floods and landslides.
He said the government will stand with those families and is building a smart system to handle floods in the future.
He reminded people of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and his dream for the country.
He said democracy means listening to different ideas, asking questions, and allowing corrections.
One song, Vande Mataram, was not played at the state event because the Union government directed that it should not be.
A helicopter from the Indian Air Force dropped flower petals, and brave police officers received awards.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan called on people to take a pledge for a 'new-era Kerala' at Independence Day celebrations at Thiruvananthapuram's Central Stadium.
Satheesan, the first Chief Minister in a decade other than Pinarayi Vijayan to preside over the state's main August 15 event, assumed office after the Congress-led UDF's victory in the April Assembly elections.
No Vande Mataram song was played at the state function in accordance with the direction of the Union government, while it was sung at the BJP-ruled Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and by BJP members in Kozhikode.
He remembered victims of recent landslides and floods, promised a scientific system to face flood disasters, and warned against caste prejudice in an apparent reference to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Flowers were showered from an Indian Air Force helicopter, and Satheesan reviewed contingents and distributed police and bravery awards.
- Who
- Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, whose Congress-led UDF formed a government after the April Assembly elections
- What
- Called for a pledge to build a new-era Kerala and presided over the state's main Independence Day celebrations, where Vande Mataram was not played in accordance with the direction of the Union government
- When
- Saturday, August 15 (Independence Day)
- Where
- Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, with Cabinet colleagues taking the salute at 13 district headquarters
- Why
- To move Kerala forward with compassion, tolerance, constitutional values and progressive development during what he called a critical phase
State government (Congress-led UDF)
BJP and Union government direction
Vande Mataram at Independence Day events
State government (Congress-led UDF)
The state-level function at Central Stadium did not play Vande Mataram, in accordance with the direction of the Union government, and the song was absent from government-organised programmes and school functions across the state.
BJP and Union government direction
At the BJP-ruled Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Vande Mataram was sung as part of the celebrations, and BJP members in Kozhikode sang it as well, highlighting the different political tones of the two ceremonies.
Political tone of the celebrations
State government (Congress-led UDF)
Satheesan framed the occasion as an assertion of constitutional and secular values, calling for a new-era Kerala powered by progressive development and democratic dialogue.
BJP and Union government direction
The contrasting singing of Vande Mataram at BJP events reflected an increasingly sharpened political contest between the fronts and the BJP in the state.
- Chief Minister
- V D Satheesan
- Event
- Independence Day celebrations
- Venue
- Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
- Date
- August 15 (Saturday)
- Notable detail
- No Vande Mataram song played, per Union government direction
- Aerial tribute
- Flowers showered from Indian Air Force helicopter
- Awards
- Police and bravery awards distributed
- First time in a decade
- CM other than Pinarayi Vijayan presided over the main celebrations
