Congress top brass to decide on fifth cabinet berth

Wednesday, March 28, 2012: United Democratic Front (UDF) convener PP Thankachan today opined that the final decision regarding the IUML’s demand for an additional berth in the Oommen Chandy cabinet would be taken by the Congress High Command.
The meeting of the liaison committee of the ruling Congress-led UDF to discuss key internal issues, including the intense bickering in Kerala Congress (B) and newly elected Kerala Congress(J) MLA Anoop Jacob’s portfolio failed to arrive at a resolution.
The tussle in the Kerala Congress (B) headed to a flashpoint with party chief Balakrishna Pillai making it clear that the party would raise its grievances about the style of functioning of his son and minister Ganesh Kumar as he was not heeding to the wishes of the party.
“We do not want a minister who ignores the party,” Pillai said. Kumar is the lone MLA of KC (B).
The UDF has made it clear that Anoop Jacob, who won the recent assembly by-poll from Piravaom as KC(J) nominee, would be made a minister to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father T M Jacob.
However,sections in the UDF, including lead partner Congress, have reservations on allocating the vital Food and Civil supplies portfolio to Anoop as he is a newcomer to the assembly and lacks experience.
KC(J) Chairman Johny Nellore, however, said in Kottayam that his party would press for Food and Civil supplies portfolio for Anoop as that was handled by his late father.
The second largest partner of the coalition, IUML has been pressing for one more berth in the cabinet, apart from four the party already holds.
The Congress, however, has not been quite enthusiastic on awarding IUML one more ministerial position. Since the signals from IUML have been that the party has given up the demand, tomorrow’s UDF meet would have to take a decision on that issue as well.