Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, April 16, 2012: By conceding the demand of Indian Union Muslim League for a fifth ministerial berth in the Congress-led UDF government, both Congress and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy have landed in a tight spot with several of its leaders coming out against the decision.Though the issue would not immediately in any way affect the 11-month-old government, which has only a wafer thin majority in the assembly, voices of differences raised by Congress leaders, including Power Minister Arayadan Muhammed, have caste a shadow over the ministry.
UDF has 72 members in the 140-strong assembly and CPI-M-led LDF has 67. One seat is lying vacant, following the resignation of CPI-M’s R Selvaraj, the assembly membership which he won from Neyyatinkara segment in Thiruvananthapuram district.
The discontent brewing up in Congress has come as an embarrassment to UDF as it was riding high on the popularity of Chandy after the impressive win of the UDF candidate at the assembly bypoll from Piravom constituency last month.
It has become all the more embarrassing as the issue cropped up at a time when the Front was preparing itself to face the crucial bypoll in Neyyatinkara. The Front has extended support to Selvaraj’s candidature.
