Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has decided to expand his Cabinet by inducting Indian Union Muslim League's Manjalamkuzhi Ali and Kerala Congress (Jacob)'s Anoop Jacob as Ministers. Governor H.R. Bhardwaj will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Ministers-designate at a simple function at Raj Bhavan at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The decision to expand the Cabinet was taken at a meeting of United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders here on Wednesday. The decision comes as a package that includes distribution of two of the three Rajya Sabha seats that the UDF can win given its strength in the Assembly and the candidate for the coming Neyyattinkara Assembly by-election. The Kerala Congress(M) and the Congress will contest one seat each in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections. The UDF decided to support R. Selvaraj, who recently resigned as MLA from the Neyyattinkara constituency and from the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The nature of support and other details would be decided after discussions between Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and Mr. Selvaraj.
The dispute between Kerala Congress(B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai and his son and Forest Minister, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, will be sorted out through discussions on April 18.
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Chandy's explanation
Addressing a press conference in the presence of a battery of UDF leaders, Mr. Chandy explained the circumstances and political situation that led to the decisions. He said the IUML earlier had five slots, including four Ministers and the Government Chief Whip with Cabinet rank. The IUML had staked its claim to a fifth berth at the start of the Ministry-making process when the UDF came to power. It had been decided to leave the matter open for further discussion. The IUML had expressed its difficulty in accepting the post of either Government Chief Whip or Deputy Speaker. Several rounds of discussions were held at various levels. Media reports on this issue were correct in parts, while many were interpretative and wild guesses. He justified the decision in terms of the usual practice the UDF adopts in holding parleys to sort out differences.
With regard to the Kerala Congress(M) claim for the Rajya Sabha seat, he said the party had made way for the Congress earlier on account of the then existing political situations. It was in this context that the Congress decided to concede the seat to the party. The IUML also had a claim for the Rajya Sabha seat, having once given it up for Defence Minister A.K. Antony's re-election. The IUML did not stake its claim this time, because of the political situation prevailing now, besides considering the need for the Congress party to shore up its strength in the upper house of Parliament.
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In reply to a question on the communal equation of the Cabinet, Mr. Chandy, in an assertive mood, said the decision on expanding the Cabinet and allot an additional berth was taken owing to the exigencies of the situation. “One should assess the deeds and functioning of the UDF government before pointing out any lapses in its equitable treatment of all sections of society. We are open to corrections if any such unjust act is pointed out,” he said. In response to another question on whether the decision was not a blow to the Congress, Mr. Chandy said every constituent of the UDF had to make some sacrifice to arrive at this decision.