Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM has chosen a mix of the old and new faces for the ministerial berths while the CPI has named four new-comers triggering protest from former ministers C.Divakaran and Mullakara Ratnakaran who have been excluded. The CPI state executive and state council meetings held at the M.N. Smarakam finalised the names of V.S. Sunil Kumar, P. Thilothaman, E. Chandrashekharan and K. Raju. It also chose V. Sasi for the post of deputy speaker.
The CPM has reached an understanding on the portfolios of its 12 ministers, including chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Mr Vijayan will keep home, vigilance and Information and Technology.
Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac will handle finance, E.P. Jayarajan industries, K.K. Shylaja health and family welfare, A. K. Balan local bodies and SC/ST welfare, T.P. Ramakrishnan excise and labour, Kadakampally Surendran power, G. Sudhakaran PWD, K.T. Jaleel tourism, Prof C. Raveendranath education, A.C. Moitheen cooperation and J. Mercykutty Amma fisheries and ports.
IT portfolio is also being considered for the Industries Minister. By picking Sudhakaran for the PWD and Ramakrishnan for excise, the CPM wants to send out a clear message that corruption would not be allowed. Both are upright leaders with a clean track record in public life. “Whatever may be the portfolio, I will ensure that there is no corruption,” said Sudhakaran.
Ramakrishnan also expressed similar views and stated that all decisions would be taken in public interest. “We have presented a programme before the people and we will work according to it,” he said. Mercykutty Amma said her experience in the trade union movement would help her in serving the people. Shylaja said the LDF had presented a detailed manifesto before the people and that the new government would do whatever it takes to fulfil its promises.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the discussions on the portfolios were on and nothing had been finalised yet. He said a finality on the portfolios would be reached by Wednesday morning. M.M. Mony, who was not considered for a cabinet berth, has been given the chief whip post.
Sharp differences were witnessed in the CPI over excluding Divakaran and Mullakara Ratnakaran. It was pointed out that excluding senior leaders like them, who were also former ministers, would not be advisable. The CPI required such experienced leaders to put across the party’s view strongly in a cabinet headed by a no- nonsense leader like Pinarayi, it was stated. With the executive failing to reach a consensus, six names were placed before the state council. However, the council went along with the proposal of bringing in all four new-comers.
Later, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran refuted media reports and said the decision on ministers was taken unanimously at the executive and state council meeting. “The state executive met for one-and-a-half hours and the state council for an hour to take the decision. Our party had brought new faces in 2006 as well. The CPI has a tradition of entrusting ministerial responsibilities with new-comers and there is nothing new in the decision,” he said.
Kanam said no discussion had taken place on the allotment of portfolios. The executive committee meeting to be held on Wednesday would take a decision on it. Notwithstanding the denial of Kanam, sources said both Divakaran and Mullakara were upset over the decision to exclude them. The latter even threatened to quit the party posts in protest. Divakaran said he would take a decision at the right time.
However, the two leaders refused to comment on the issue publicly. They endorsed the party decision to bring in the new-comers. Meanwhile, Governor P Sathasivam has invited CPM legislature party leader Pinarayi Vijayan to form the next Government. The invitation came soon after a delegation led CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan met Governor at the Raj Bhavan and handed over the letters regarding the election of Pinarayi Vijayan as the leader of LDF legislature party and expression of support from leaders of the legislature parties of other constituents of the LDF.
E Chandrashekharan of CPI and A K Saseendran of NCP accompanied him. An official statement issued by Raj Bhavan said ;"As per the provisions of Article 164(1) of the Constitution, the Governor has appointed Shri Pinarayi Vijayan as the Chief Minister and sought from him the list of persons to be appointed as ministerial colleagues. The swearing in ceremony of the proposed ministry will be at 4 pm on May 25 at the Central Stadium .”
