THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC chief V. M. Sudheeran is initiating steps to include Karunakaran loyalists in the Oommen Chandy cabinet, according to Mr K. Muraleedharan MLA.
He was speaking to reporters in New Delhi after calling on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary in charge of the state Mukul Wasnik.
Mr Muraleedharan met the AICC leaders ahead of the Chief Minister’s meeting with them. Mr Chandy reiterated that he had come to New Delhi to hold talks with the union ministers. “I can discuss the cabinet reshuffle only after talks with the KPCC. Deliberations are yet to start in the state,” Mr Chandy said.
He also met Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, AICC working committee member A. K. Antony and Mukul Wasnik. Earlier, he called on HRD Minister Smriti Irani and discussed plans to set up the IIT sanctioned for the state. The others he met are Forest and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Shipping and Surface Transport Minister Nithin Gadkari. Issues like the Kasturirangan report, Vizhinjam terminal and NH development were discussed with them.
Meanwhile, KC (M) leader K. M. Mani discounted the chances of a cabinet expansion citing that it would not boost the UDF image.
“I am not against or for any cabinet expansion as the Kerala Congress won’t lose any post even if there is a reshuffle” he said.
