The Congress party is getting ready for another round of factional battle over the issue of Cabinet reshuffle.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is expected to be in New Delhi on July 24 for official purposes, is likely to discuss with the High Command the Cabinet reshuffle issue which has now come up owing to Speaker G. Karthikeyan’s open expression of his desire to demit office.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala will follow Mr. Chandy later next week. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran will be back from his private U.S. visit early next week after which the pace might quicken.
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The decision on whether he should go in for a Cabinet reshuffle rests solely with Mr. Chandy, since it is his exclusive prerogative. Beyond that, he would have to work out the methodology through discussions with leaders such as Mr. Chennithala and Mr. Sudheeran, not to mention the UDF partners, since the reshuffle would have an overall impact on the coalition.
Mr. Chennithala has not openly expressed his view on the reshuffle, but his faction has not concealed its opposition to the move. His supporters maintain that there is no clarity in the reshuffle moves. The existing set-up is sailing smoothly with a clear-cut agenda for the remaining two years of the government’s term. Besides, the Lok Sabha election results were made possible mainly because of the performance record of the UDF government; therefore the question of refurbishing the government’s image was irrelevant.
The faction leaders feel that the move is intended to cut corners since it would lead to the exit of one of its nominees in the Cabinet.
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The interesting part is that the Cabinet reshuffle has not been discussed at any level so far, though Mr. Karthikeyan’s moves have created such a situation. Going by the reactions from various quarters, including from leaders of social organisations, it is certain that Mr. Chandy would have to make a tough call on the reshuffle issue.