Congress top brass to resolve Chennithala issue

"All issues" in the Congress in Kerala will be sorted out by the party high command, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Wednesday over state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala's possible inclusion in the cabinet.

Oommen Chandy returned from Delhi Tuesday, while Chennithala was asked to stay back in Delhi to finalise the issues that have cropped up following the move for his possible inclusion in the cabinet.

"All issues are now being taken care of by our high command and my job now is to speak with the allies of my coalition government," Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting in the state capital Wednesday.

About the same time, Chennithala after a meeting with Defence Minister A.K. Antony in New Delhi told reporters: "I was asked to stay back and since Antony was unwell for the past few days I was unable to meet him. Now I met him. All issues are before the high command and at the appropriate time they will make the necessary announcement."

Since May this year the relationship between Chandy and Chennithala has turned a bit sour after the state Congress chief aired hopes for joining the cabinet "in a suitable slot". Things did not materialise, upsetting Chennithala.

There is speculation that Chennithala has been offered the number two position in the cabinet, but neither the Congress leaders nor its allies have been able to confirm it.

It remains to be seen whether Chennithala gets the home portfolio or bags the post of deputy chief minister. He wanted both.