CPM to have 12 ministers; Will it be all newcomers?
Kozhikode: Talks on government formation has reached the final stage and by tomorrow, a decision on who would become minister in the Pinarayi 2.0 cabinet will be known. In the first Pinarayi cabinet, there were 13 ministers from the CPM, including the Chief Minister. But this time as there are more allied partners in the front and more MLAs too, the CPM has reached a compromise to leave one minister’s post, it is learnt.
By all available indications, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who won a historic second term will continue to helm the next government.
The talks doing the rounds is that besides the chief minister, rest all would be new and young faces or one/two would continue to remain and the rest would be newcomers. These are the two formulas that has become the topic of discussion. In all probability, Health minister K K Shailaja may continue in her present portfolio in the wake of the pandemic ruling the state. If the new ministry under Pinarayi Vijayan continues to retain any of the ministers, then it would be K K Shailaja.
If A C Moideen does not get berth in the cabinet, then Muhammed Riyas representing the Muslim community or A N Shamseer may be considered.
If the decision to introduce new faces is approved, then suspense continues on what post K K Shailaja would be offered. Efforts to make a woman as speaker have arisen. Then she could be offered the speaker’s post.
Among the women MLAs, it is confirmed that Veena George will get a ministerial post. If Shailaja gets a second term as minister, Veena George will be the speaker. CPM central committee member MV Govindan, state secretariat members K Radhakrishnan, KN Balagopal and P Rajeev will definitely get ministerial post.
V Sivankutty, Saji Cheriyan, VN Vasavan, MB Rajesh, P Nandakumar and CH Kunjambu are in the probability list of ministers. V Abdurahiman is likely to replace KT Jaleel in the cabinet.
If LDF reserves the speaker post for woman MLA, only one woman will be included in the cabinet. But if two women are considered to the cabinet like last year, Kanathil Jameela will get a ministerial post.
At the same time, representation to Palakkad district and young age will favour MB Rajesh to be named as minister. But if LDF considers seniority, P Mammikutty may get the ministerial post.
This time, Kerala Congress and LJD also joined LDF. It is confirmed that Kerala Congress which has 5 MLAs will get an entry to the Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0 cabinet. But they have been pressurising to get two ministerial posts.
Meanwhile, CPM has declared that two ministerial posts will not be given to Kerala Congress. Hence, Kerala Congress has demanded for Chief Whip post instead of the second ministerial post.
CPI will have 4 ministers in the cabinet. The Deputy speaker will be also selected from CPI.
There are five parties with single MLAs. CPM will take a decision on selecting ministers from these parties in the meeting to be held on Sunday and Monday.
It is reported that incumbent minister Ramachandran Kadannappally will not get a second term in the Pinarayi cabinet.
Meanwhile, KB Ganesh Kumar is likely to become minister. It is learned that he will be appointed as the new transport minister.
With lone MLA, LJD has been pressurising CPM for a ministerial post.
Janadhipathya Kerala Congress and INL are the other parties that are likely to get representation in the cabinet. Discussions are being carried out to share the term with 2 and half years each between these parties. If not, Janadhipathya Kerala Congress MLA Antony Raju will get the ministerial post and INL MLA Ahammad Devarkovil will get the chief whip post.
If two and half years are shared between the parties, Antony Raju will get the first term. If so, the chief whip post will be given to the Kerala Congress.