KOCHI: Ernakulam and Kottayam districts that defied the Left wave in the central Kerala region may not get a representation in the Cabinet headed by Pinarayi Vijayan. The tentative list finalised by the CPM on Sunday does not have an elected member from Ernakulam and Kottayam districts.
Although S. Sarma’s name was doing the rounds as a possible minister, he failed to get the nod as per the tentative list. The Communist Party of India (CPI), the second- largest constituent in the LDF, is also unlikely to field anyone from the district as ministers. Eldho Abraham, who wrested the Muvattupuzha seat from Joseph Vazhakkan, is unlikely to be made a minister as he is a first-time MLA.
In the outgoing UDF ministry, Ernakulam had two ministers — K. Babu and Anup Jacob, handling excise, fisheries and civil supplies, respectively. Other than Mr Sarma, neither CPM nor CPI has any other major leaders elected from the district. This could be the main reason for the lack of representation in the new Cabinet.
Ignoring Erankulam, home to some of the major projects such as the Kochi Metro, Dubai Internet City and SmartCity, is likely to have an adverse impact for the LDF, sources said. “These are projects that needed constant attention and intervention of the state government. A member from the district in the Cabinet would have helped fasten the process,” said a leader from the district. Out of the 14 Assembly seats in Ernakulam, the UDF won nine while LDF managed to win only five seats.
In Kottayam district, UDF won six out of the nine seats with LDF retaining two and one seat going to P.C. George who contested as an independent candidate. In the Chandy regime apart from the Chief Minister, senior leaders K.M. Mani and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan represented the district in the Cabinet.
