Anoop Jacob,Manjalamkuzhi Ali,UDF ministry expanded, IUML gets 5th berth

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led UDF ministry led by Oommen Chandy in Kerala was expanded today with the induction of Manjalamkuzhi Ali of the Indian Union Muslim League and Anoop Jacob (KC-J), raising its strength to 21.


Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj, who holds additional charge of Kerala, administered the oath of office to Ali and Jacob at Raj Bhavan here.


With Ali joining the ministry, the strength of IUML in the cabinet went up to five.


Anoop's induction filled the vacancy caused by the death of his father T M Jacob in October last, who was then Food and Civil Supplies minister.


An entrepreneur-turned-politician, Ali left the LDF and joined IUML on the eve of Assembly polls last year. He was elected from Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. In 2001 and 2006, he was elected to the Assembly from Mankada segment as LDF independent.


His induction was preceded by several days of discussions in the UDF as the Congress was hesitant to concede IUML's demand for a fifth cabinet berth, fearing it would upset the communal composition of the ministry in which Christians and Muslims outnumber the majority Hindu community.


With the IUML sticking to its demand, Congress was forced to accept the ally's demand and the issue was settled at a meeting of UDF leaders held here last evening.


Anoop, 34, was elected from Piravom in Ernakulam district in the assembly by-poll last month.


Chandy, opposition leder V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and Speaker G Karthijeyan attended the function.


BJP called hartal in the state capital protesting the decision to award fifth ministerial position to IUML.