Senior Congress leader negotiates cabinet berths and KPCC chief post for loyalists as UDF prepares for power after a decade.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a swift move to preserve party unity following intense deliberations over the top post, the Congress High Command has successfully persuaded veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala to accept the crucial Home and Vigilance portfolios in the incoming United Democratic Front (UDF) government. The decision comes after Chennithala was overlooked for the Chief Minister’s post in favor of V D Satheesan, who spearheaded the alliance’s resounding victory in the recently concluded Kerala Assembly elections.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) selected Satheesan to lead the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, a move that initially left other prominent contenders, including Chennithala and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, disappointed. While both senior leaders meticulously avoided public expressions of discontent, a palpable tension had been evident in their recent media interactions.
Resolving the Impasse
The ice was broken on Friday when Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan visited Chennithala at his residence. Following a closed-door meeting, the two leaders addressed the media together, projecting a front of strong solidarity and mutual warmth. With the Congress-led UDF returning to power in Kerala after a ten-year hiatus, the party leadership remains highly focused on pre-empting any factional friction before governance begins.
While the allocation of the Home Ministry to Chennithala was finalized during Friday’s discussions, highly placed sources reveal that the veteran leader has put forward additional conditions to secure the interests of his faction. Chennithala has reportedly requested ministerial and organizational roles for his loyalists, pushing Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath to the top of the priority list for a cabinet berth.
Reshuffling the Organizational Deck
The demands from the Chennithala camp extend beyond the cabinet. There is a strong push to elevate senior leader Joseph Vazhakkan—who was excluded from contesting the Ettumanoor seat in the assembly polls—to the position of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President.
The organizational restructuring is further necessitated by the fact that the current KPCC Chief, Sunny Joseph, who won from the Peravur constituency, is slated to be inducted into the new cabinet. Given Chennithala’s immense seniority and influence within the state unit, the party high command is highly likely to accommodate his recommendations. However, political observers note that meeting these factional demands could complicate Satheesan’s initial plans to ensure significant representation for youth and women MLAs in his cabinet.
Portfolio Allocations and Economic Challenges
With Chennithala taking charge of the state’s internal security and law enforcement through the Home and Vigilance departments, Chief Minister V D Satheesan is expected to retain the critical Finance portfolio.
The incoming administration faces immediate fiscal pressure. The implementation of the welfare schemes and the “Indira Guarantee” promised in the UDF election manifesto will require substantial financial management. Satheesan, who earned widespread acclaim for his thorough understanding of public finance during his tenure as the Leader of the Opposition, is considered best suited to steer the state Treasury through these upcoming challenges.
Historical Precedents
This is not the first time Chennithala has had to step aside for the state’s top job. In 2011, when the UDF secured power with 72 seats, Chennithala’s chief ministerial aspirations were deferred in favor of Oommen Chandy. His subsequent bid for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post was also blocked due to reservations from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). He continued as the KPCC chief until 2014, when a High Command-guided cabinet reshuffle saw him take over the Home Ministry from Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, a role he maintained until 2016.
The Road to Swearing-In
The final composition of the cabinet, including the portfolios allotted to key UDF allies like the IUML and the Kerala Congress, will be officially announced on Sunday after the conclusion of bilateral talks. The new UDF cabinet under V D Satheesan is scheduled to take the oath of office on Monday, May 18. Sources added that the newly elected MLAs will be sworn into the assembly on May 21, followed by the election of the Speaker on May 22.
