The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is likely to take a decision on the re-induction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader A.K. Saseendran into the Cabinet in the coming few days.
An indication to this effect was given by LDF convener Vaikom Viswan after a meeting with NCP State president T.P. Peethambaran here on Thursday. Emerging from the meeting, Mr. Peethambaran said the LDF convener had promised him that he would consult leaders of other coalition parties and arrive at a decision on his party’s plea soon. Mr. Viswan later told reporters that a decision on the NCP leadership’s plea would be taken within two days.
The NCP State president also met CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and his CPI counterpart Kanam Rajendran. With Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stating on Wednesday that there would be no hurdle to Mr. Saseendran’s return to the Cabinet given the clean chit given to him by the P.S. Antony Commission, the deliberations in the LDF are likely to move smoothly and in the NCP leader’s favour.
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However, the Opposition has made it clear that it would not take kindly to any such move. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, whose ‘Padayorukkam’ reached here on Thursday, said the move to bring back Mr. Saseendran to the Cabinet would be a matter of shame for the State.
Mr. Saseendran had failed to observe the ethical principles that every public person should go by. Therefore, any attempt to bring Mr. Saseendran back would be a challenge to the people of Kerala, Mr. Chennithala said.