Thiruvananthapuram: Janata Dal (Secular) leader K. Krishnankutty was sworn in as minister in LDF government on Tuesday.
Governor P. Sathasivam administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Mr Krishnankutty at a solemn function held at the Raj Bhavan auditorium at 5 pm. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his Cabinet colleagues, LDF MLAs, top civil and police officers attended the ceremony.
The Opposition UDF boycotted the event to protest against government stand on the Sabarimala. However, the BJP MLA O. Rajagopal was present. After the, ceremony the 74-year-old leader went to the Secretariat and took charge. He retained the room of his predecessor Mathew T. Thomas.
He retains water resources portfolio along with irrigation, Com-mand Area Development Authority, Ground Water Development, Water Supply and Sanitation, Inland Navigation (Cons-truction of Waterways), Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation.
Mr Thomas paved the way for Chittur MLA following the decision taken former Prime Minister and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda. Notwithstanding the differences within the party over the midterm change, the two leaders have ruled out the possibility of any split.
With Krishnankutty becoming minister, the next task of JD(S) national leadership will be to appoint the new state party president.
