When the new government assumes office on Wednesday, it will be the first time in more than three decades the State Cabinet will not be having a representative from Ernakulam district.
There were three Ministers from the district in the previous Oommen Chandy Cabinet (from May 18, 2011 to May 20, 2016) in the 13th Assembly. They were K. Babu, Anoop Jacob, and V.K. Ebrahimkunju.
In the V.S. Achuthanandan Cabinet in the 12th Assembly (from May 18, 2006 to May 14, 2011), S. Sharma, T.U. Kuruvilla, and Jose Thettayil from the district were Ministers. Prior to that, the Cabinets led by A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy (between May 17, 2001 and August 29, 2004, and August 31, 2004 and May 12, 2006) had M.A. Kuttappan, T.M. Jacob, V.K. Ebrahimkunju, and Dominic Presentation from the district as Ministers.
In the E.K. Nayanar Cabinet in the 10th Assembly (between May 1996 and May 2001), S. Sarma, and T.K. Ramakrishnan from the district were Ministers. In the ninth Assembly, the Cabinets led by K. Karunakaran (between June 24, 1991 and March 16, 1995) and later by A.K. Antony (between March 22, 1995 and May 9, 1996) had T.M. Jacob, T.H. Musthafa, and P.P. Thankachan as Ministers from the district.
The eighth Assembly (between March 25, 1987 and April 5, 1991) had V. Vishwanatha Menon from the district as Minister in the E.K. Nayanar-led Cabinet, while the Cabinet under K. Karunakaran in the seventh Assembly (between May 24, 1982 and March 25, 1987) had as many as four representatives from Ernakulam district, and they included A.L. Jacob, and T.M. Jacob.
“Given the extent of decentralisation of powers, Ernakulam district does not stand to lose much because of not having a representative in the Cabinet,” says veteran journalist P. Rajan, who argues that each MLA is granted funds for local development.
Mr. Rajan feels that since the government is led by a front comprising different parties, it may not always be possible to give room to all. He also feels that the Cabinet should be kept small to avoid wasteful expenditure.
“Given that Ernakulam contributes substantially to the State’s revenue, and that it is the hub of development activities, it is natural that people from the district expect to have their representative in the Cabinet,” says K.V. Thomas, MP. Beyond that, it is for the ruling front to take a call, he adds.
However, trade and industry feel otherwise. C.S. Kartha, president of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed surprise that there was no Minister from the district in the new Cabinet. He is of the view that no other district requires the attention that Ernakulam deserves.
Given that Ernakulam is the hub of development activities, it is natural that people expect to have their representative in the Cabinet
K.V. Thomas, MP
