Muslim League gets fifth cabinet berth


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After many dramatic discussions and heated controversies, the Congress has agreed to the claim of Muslim League for a fifth minister in the Kerala cabinet.


The UDF meeting convened on Wednesday here decided to give Manjalamkuzhi Ali of Muslim League a cabinet entry. Both Anoop Jacob and Manjalamkuzhi Ali will take oath as cabinet ministers at 10 am on Thursday.


However, no new portfolio will be allocated to Ali, who will have to share some of the portfolios that are already with the Muslim League. A final decision on portfolios of Ali and Jacob will be taken only after the swearing-in, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after the meeting.


Ever since the Muslim League stepped up its demand for a fifth cabinet berth, there was apprehension within the Congress whether this would alter the 'caste and communal equations' in the cabinet. With this expansion, the number of ministers from minority communities has risen to 12 in the 21-member cabinet. 


Asked whether the decision amounted to a surrender by the Congress to unreasonable demands of its allies, Chandy said: "There is no surrender in UDF. Neither are any decisions thrust on anyone."


Though Congress was against giving a fifth ministerial berth to Muslim League, the former gave in to the persistent demand of the latter. KPPC President Ramesh Chennithala who met Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday had informed her that the demand of the League should be fulfilled.


It was also decided in the UDF meeting to extend support to Selvaraj who is about to contest in the Neyyattinkara by-election. Moreover, the two vacant Raja Sabha seats will be divided between Congress and Kerala Congress (Mani). Former MLA Joy Abraham will contest as the candidate of Kerala Congress (Mani) for Rajya Sabha seat. An official announcement on this will be made on Thursday. At present Joy is the general secretary of Kerala Congress.

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