Thiruvananthapuram: NCP leader and Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy will be sworn in as minister on Saturday at 4 pm. LDF state committee decided to induct Chandy in vacancy of A. K. Saseendran who resigned after an audio clip of a sexually explicit conversation, allegedly between him and a woman, was aired by a TV channel. Though the CPM central leadership had reservations on “crorepati” minister in party-led government, NCP state and national leadership prevailed over them pointing out that they could not give up cabinet berth in LDF government. The state leadership of NCP stuck to Chandy's name and that forced the CPM leadership to concede their demand early on.
Earlier NCP state president handed over party’s official letter recommending Chandy for Cabinet berth at the Cliff House at 9.30 am. This was followed by LDF leadership meet at the AKG Centre at 11.30 am. In the meeting which lasted only 10 minutes, Uzhavoor Vijayan handed a letter to LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswan requesting them to consider Chandy for ministerial berth. The letter was placed by the Convenor before the LDF leaders who approved the proposal after a brief discussion. Later LDF conveyed the decision through a press statement.
The swearing in ceremony will be held on Raj Bhavan premises on Saturday at 4 pm. Chandy will retain Saseendran’s portfolios – transport, motor vehicles and water transport. He is likely to be allotted Kaveri, the ministerial bungalow vacated by Saseendran. Reacting to LDF decision on his induction, Chandy said he was happy and would speak at length after taking charge. Saseendran also welcomed the decision to induct Chandy saying it was the right decision. He left Kozhikode to attend the swearing in ceremony on Saturday. After M. M. Mani who was inducted into the Cabinet following E. P. Jayarajan’s resignation on the charges of nepotism, Chandy is the second new face in Pinarayi Vijayan government which came to power on May 25, 2016.
