Chandy hints at cabinet reshuffle after elections

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has hinted that  the cabinet may be reshuffled after the Lok Sabha elections. There was speculation on an imminent  reshuffle with Mr Chandy calling on KC (B) chairman R. Balakrishna Pillai and his son and former sports minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar  at Pathanapuram on Thursday.
“Nothing can be disclosed about it now.  Discussions have to be initiated and the Congress high command’s permission will also have to be taken,” said Mr Chandy at a meet-the- press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram  Press Club.
Mr Chandy did not  reveal  what had transpired in his talks with  Mr Pillai and his son. He felt that it was not the right time to discuss Mr Ganesh Kumar’s re-entry into the cabinet.
 However, Congress sources told DC that Mr Chandy’s mission was to persuade Mr Pillai to actively campaign for the UDF. For some time now, Mr Pillai has not been on good terms with  Mr Chandy as he has been alleging that Mr Chandy was objecting to Mr Ganesh Kumar’s re-entry.

Referring to the controversy on the candidature of Idukki sitting MP P. T. Thomas, Mr Chandy said  that it was he himself who had withdrawn from the electoral fray.
“But at the same time, he was also ready to contest the elections. He withdrew so as to ensure more representation from the Youth Congress. Also, it was KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran who entrusted Thomas with the campaign work in Kasargod,” Mr Chandy added.