Chandy expands cabinet, inducts 13 more ministers

Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expanded his cabinet Monday by including 13 more ministers in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government he leads.

Governor R.S. Gavai administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the new ministers. With this, the strength of the cabinet rose to 20.

Chandy and six others were sworn in May 18.

Among the 13 new ministers, nine are from the Congress party - Aryadan Mohammed, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash, A.P. Anil Kumar, P.K. Jayalekshmi, C.N. Balakrishnan, K. Babu, K.C. Joseph and V.S. Sivakumar.

The other ministers include M.K. Muneer, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, P.K. Abdu Rabb (Indian Union Muslim League) and P.J. Joseph (Kerala Congress-Mani).

Jayalekshmi, 29, became the state's first minister from the tribal community. She represents Mananthavady constituency in Wayanad district.

P.J. Joseph, who was part of the previous Left Front government representing the Kerala Congress faction that he led, later quit the ministry and joined Kerala Congress (Mani), a leading UDF partner.

There is one more vacancy in the cabinet over which heated talks are continuing between the UDF allies.

--IANS

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 12:35 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Left out of cabinet, Karunakaran's son miffed

Kozhikode, May 23 : K. Muraleedharan, a former state Congress president and son of ex-Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran, Monday expressed his displeasure at being left out of the government and not even being invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministry.

"I was in the capital till late last (Sunday) night and I did not get an invite to attend the swearing-in ceremony that took place today (Monday) from either the Congress or the United Democratic Front," Muraleedharan told reporters here.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and six others were sworn in May 18. On Monday, Chandy expanded his cabinet by inducting 13 more ministers.

"The present list of Congress ministers includes even those who have abused Karunakaran. But I will be fully supporting this government because I am one of the 38 Congress legislators. I will work as a legislator for the people of my constituency," said Muraleedharan.

Muraleedharan won from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency in the recent assembly polls.

Muraleedharan was suspended for six years in 2005 and was taken back in March this year after a sympathy wave in his favour following his father's death in December.

--IANS

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 8:53 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Left out of cabinet, Karunakaran's son miffed

K. Muraleedharan, a former state Congress president and son of ex-Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran, Monday expressed his displeasure at being left out of the government and not even being invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministry.

"I was in the capital till late last (Sunday) night and I did not get an invite to attend the swearing-in ceremony that took place today (Monday) from either the Congress or the United Democratic Front," Muraleedharan told reporters here.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and six others were sworn in May 18. On Monday, Chandy expanded his cabinet by inducting 13 more ministers.

"The present list of Congress ministers includes even those who have abused Karunakaran. But I will be fully supporting this government because I am one of the 38 Congress legislators. I will work as a legislator for the people of my constituency,” said Muraleedharan.

Muraleedharan won from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency in the recent assembly polls.

Muraleedharan was suspended for six years in 2005 and was taken back in March this year after a sympathy wave in his favour following his father's death in December.

View the original article here

Posted on 9:32 AM / 0 comments / Read More