Rahul, Revanth Attend UDF Govt Oath Taking Ceremony
Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan warmly welcomed him with a hug, along with his deputy, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
Thiruvananthapuram: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy attended the swearing-in ceremony of the UDF Government in Kerala.
V D Satheesan warmly welcomed him with a hug, along with his deputy, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
Reddy had campaigned extensively for UDF candidates, and his dialogue “Nee Po Mone Vijayan,” delivered during a roadshow in Thiruvananthapuram, went viral. The iconic line "Nee Po Mone Dinesha", originally delivered by superstar Mohanlal in the Malayalam blockbuster ‘Narasimham’, is considered one of the most memorable in Malayalam cinema.
However, it provoked CPM workers, who accused Reddy of mocking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Vijayan responded with his own quip, “Nee po dash mone Revanth,” sparking a verbal exchange that dominated headlines for a couple of days. Many candidates in Kerala consider Reddy a lucky mascot, with high demand from both candidates and party workers to have him as a star campaigner in their constituencies.
Congress President Mallikarjun, Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi were also present during the UDF government's swearing-in ceremony.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, AICC Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi, and CWC member Kodikunnil Suresh welcomed them at the airport.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel were received by Satheesan and Kodikunnil Suresh at the airport.
Rahul Gandhi played a key role in finalizing the Chief Minister after the elections. Following the CLP meeting where his close aide K C Venugopal secured the backing of 43 of the 63 MLAs, a tricky situation arose, making it hard for the high command to decide.
Rahul Gandhi called all key leaders to Delhi, including former PCC presidents, to seek their views, and also spoke to UDF allies like IUML and Kerala Congress (Joseph). The Congress high command went by the popular view.
Ramesh Chennithala, set to be the new Home Minister, said Chief Minister V D Satheesan had allowed him to choose any portfolio. “I became a minister in the Karunakaran government 40 years ago and held the home portfolio in the Oommen Chandy government. I will work for the people of the state,” he said.
Chennithala, who was a frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s post alongside Satheesan and Venugopal, was upset with the AICC decision and skipped the Congress Legislature Party meeting. However, he was placated with the home and vigilance portfolios and, as one of the most senior members, will be the number two in the Satheesan ministry.
“I am a first-timer and lack administrative experience, but I will overcome these difficulties with the help of my colleagues,” said C P John of CMP, who will be holding trasnport portfolio.
