Satheesan Picks 14 Freshers For Team, Swearing-In Today
While the Muslim League is satisfied, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) is displeased with receiving only one berth instead of the two it sought, though the Congress has offered the Government Chief Whip post: Reports
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan has picked 14 freshers for his Cabinet which will take the oath of office at 10 am today in the presence of Congress top leaders and Chief Ministers of party-ruled states. Interestingly Satheesan himself is a first-timer in the Cabinet.
The Cabinet will have two women ministers and two members of the Scheduled Caste community, which did not have representation in the outgoing LDF ministry. Eleven ministers are from the Congress; Satheesan has met the quota allocations for the UDF allies, except Kerala Congress (Joseph) which was displeased with receiving only one berth instead of the two it sought.
Kerala with its 140-member House can have a Cabinet of 20 ministers and the Chief Minister.
The No. 2 in the Cabinet appears to be Ramesh Chennithala, who first became a minister 40 years ago, and was recently miffed at being passed over for the top job. He has been allocated the home and vigilance portfolios.
AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who lost the CM race to Satheesan, is said to have secured a larger share for his supporters in the Cabinet, reportedly enjoying the backing of 45 of the 63 Congress legislators in the CLP.
Alongside Satheeshan, the first-timers in the Cabinet include Kerala PCC president Sunny Joseph, Bindu Krishna, P.C. Vishnunadh, M. Liju, Roji M. John, T. Siddique, O.J. Janeesh, and K.A. Thulasi. Veteran leaders returning from previous governments include A.P. Anil Kumar from the Scheduled Caste community, and K. Muraleedharan, son of former chief minister K. Karunakaran.
After Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League holds the largest share with 22 MLAs. Of its five ministerial berths, four are newcomers, while senior leader P.K. Kunhalikutty, a veteran of several UDF ministries, returns to the Cabinet. K.P. Basheer, who played a key role in Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’s campaigns in Wayanad, has also joined, along with firebrand K.M. Shaji, N. Shamsudeen, and V.E. Abdul Gafoor. While the Muslim League is satisfied, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) is displeased with receiving only one berth instead of the two it sought, though the Congress has offered the Government Chief Whip post. Mons Joseph will represent the party in the Cabinet. The RSP, with three MLAs, is bringing in Shibu Baby John, while single-MLA parties are also represented with C.P. John of the CMP and Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob).
The Congress has appointed two women, former Mahila Congress president Bindu Krishna and Tulasi, both former members of the State Women’s Commission and with Tulasi belonging to the Scheduled Caste, to ministerial positions. Senior leader Shanimol Usman, who was also in the running for a Cabinet role, will instead take on the Deputy Speaker’s post. Veteran politician Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who had hoped for a prominent Cabinet position, will serve as Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The unexpected inclusion in the lineup is State Youth Congress president O.J. Janeesh.
The final list of ministerial portfolios will be decided and submitted to the Governor after the swearing-in ceremony, as the Congress has reached an understanding on the matter. Chief Minister Satheesan will handle the finance and oorts departments, Sunny Joseph will serve as revenue minister. K. Muraleedharan declined the electricity portfolio and was reportedly being allotted health and devaswom.
A.P. Anil Kumar is likely to take charge of the power ministry. Other designated Congress ministers and their portfolios include P.C. Vishnunath (tourism and culture), T. Siddique (forests), Bindu Krishna (women and child welfare), M. Liju (excise and cooperation), O.J. Janeesh (youth welfare), K.A. Tulasi (SC/ST and Backward Classes welfare), and Roji M. John (portfolio yet to be decided).
