Cabinet reshuffle not on CM’s agenda

Chandy says discussion first in Congress State unit and UDF

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s statement that a Cabinet reshuffle did not figure on his agenda during his New Delhi visit has virtually ended all speculations that have been doing the rounds during the last one week.

Mr. Chandy, who left for Delhi on Wednesday evening, reiterated his earlier stand that the scope for the reshuffle would be discussed by the party’s State leadership and the United Democratic Front (UDF) prior to seeking the high command’s clearance. He did not give any indication whether he would initiate such moves.

Regrouping

However, party leaders here feel that Mr. Chandy, contrary to his statements, may make a bid for a reshuffle, though its potential is quite bleak. There is strong opposition within the Congress, forcing rival factions to regroup for and against the proposed move.

At one point of time, it appeared that factional loyalties were getting blurred as a result of the tweak given to the party’s political campaign styles by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran.

Keen on status quo Party leaders here feel the high command could discourage Mr. Chandy against going in for a reshuffle because, as a matter of policy, it has been disinclined to destabilise existing leaderships in Congress-ruled States.

At least in three States, the respective State leadership is under threat owing to torrid dissident activity.

The party high command has not been able to tackle this phenomenon, coming as it does when the Bharatiya Janata Party is on the ascendancy in these States.

In Kerala, the party high command is least interested in destabilising the existing set up owing to different reasons, it is felt.

Balancing act It was only recently that the party sorted out issues related to communal balancing by a Cabinet reshuffle of sorts with the induction of Ramesh Chennithala, not to mention that of V.M. Sudheeran as KPCC president.

Another Cabinet reshuffle is a driving force for Mr. Chandy to re-establish his authority that had eroded in recent times.

If he does take the plunge, the main question that Mr. Chandy would have to answer is whether the Congress party could afford another polarisation of sorts that a reshuffle might trigger off.