Kanam Rajendran, Pinarayi Vijayan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: A decision on government formation has been taken at the LDF meet and what remains to be known is who will become ministers in the Pinarayi 2.0 government.
Last time, CPM had 13 ministers but this time it would be reduced to 12. The CPI will have 4 ministerial berths and deputy speaker post. Kerala Congress (M) will be offered one minister’s post and chief whip post, JDS and NCP will get one minister’s post each.
These are the unconfirmed reports that are coming out. The remaining two ministerial berths will be shared by 4 small parties for a term of two-and-half years and concede the remaining term to another single-member ally.
Kerala Congress (M) would be given one minister’s post from the CPM kitty. It is learnt that Power department would be offered to them. Roshy Augustine will get ministerial post and the chief whip post would go to N Jayaraj.
The CPM had told earlier itself that it would not offer the main portfolios that was held by the party last time. Hence CPI would be given Revenue, Agriculture, Forest and Food Supplies.
For the small parties, departments like Sports, Port, Transport, Water Authority may be offered. Among these, Transport and Water Resources will be given to JDS and NCP respectively. The other two departments would be offered to single-MLA parties, according to unconfirmed sources.
Today’s LDF meet will arrive at a decision on which party would choose their candidate as ministers in the first term. The LDF parliamentary party meet will be convened tomorrow and appoint Pinarayi Vijayan as their leader. The CPM had informed its allies that a decision on cabinet formation would be taken before that.
Meanwhile, Janadhipathya Kerala Congress leader Antony Raju said he is not interested in being appointed as a minister in the first term. He said that he is willing to compromise for the front.
Newcomers will get ministerial berths in CPM and CPI. All 4 ministers of CPI will be new faces. Chittayam Gopakumar is being considered for deputy speaker post. From the CPI, G R Anil, J Chinjurani, P Prasad may become ministers.
The new faces in CPM would be Veena George, V Sivankutty, P Rajeev and they would be offered important portfolios, it is learnt.
The chief minister will meet the Governor on May 19 and will inform about the swearing–in officially. The oath taking is scheduled on May 20. There are reports that only a few people would be invited for the function due to the second wave of the Pandemic.
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