Kerala's development needs will be looked after: BJP minister

All the developmental needs of Kerala would be addressed, union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Pon Radhakrishnan said upon his arrival at the airport here Saturday.

Radhakrishnan was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. His constituency is about 25 km south of Thiruvananthapuram and hence, he has close links with Kerala.

"I will be shortly visiting the proposed Kanjikode rail factory and also take up the case of development work on roads connecting the two states," Radhakrishnan told reporters.

His remarks come at a time when Kerala has no representation in the Narendra Modi cabinet.

BJP sources indicated the 10 states without representation would be accommodated in next month's cabinet expansion.

Top leaders, including state BJP president V. Muraleedharan, former presidents P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and P.K. Krishna Das are expecting a call to join the cabinet.

It remains to be seen if 84-year-old veteran O. Rajagopal who gave Shashi Tharoor of the Congress a run for his money by finishing second, gets a second innings as a minister. He was a minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (1999-2004).