Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (IANS) Kerala's chief minister-designate Oommen Chandy and several leaders of the United Democratic Front were seen heading to churches before being sworn in Wednesday afternoon.

 
 Congress veteran Chandy, 67, drove to his home parish at Puthupally in Kottayam district late Tuesday night and prayed at the grave of his parents. He returned at his office here well past midnight.
 
 A couple of senior bishops arrived at his home Wednesday morning and conducted a short prayer session and wished him the best for his second outing as the chief minister.
 
 "You can look forward to very important decisions that will be announced at the very first cabinet meeting to be held soon after the swearing in," Chandy told reporters.
 
 K.M. Mani, 78, who leads the nine-member Kerala Congress (Mani) -- the third biggest ally in the UDF -- reached the Lourde Forane Church here with his wife and took part in  the mass. 
 
 Emerging from the ceremony, he said that he was happy to get back the finance portfolio after a gap of 25 years.
 
 T.M. Jacob, who heads the Kerala Congress (Jacob) and will be given the food and civil supplies and ports portfolios, reached the St Peter's Jacobite Church here to attend a special mass for him and his immediate family members.
 
 Chandy and six UDF leaders will be sworn in at Raj Bhavan, the governor's residence, Wednesday.
 
 The second round of cabinet induction is expected to take place next week.