Chandy to have talks with high command on cabinet reshuffle

With a consensus eluding Congress over a cabinet reshuffle by inducting KPCC Chief Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will again hold talks tomorrow in Delhi with the party high command.

'I will be going to Delhi tomorrow. The high command has already started discussion on ministry revamp and a final decision will be that of the party leadership,' Chandy told reporters during weekly cabinet briefing here.

Asked whether Chennithala would join the cabinet, he said it was for the High Command to take a call on that.

Sources said the reshuffle had been delayed as the ruling UDF is yet to arrive at a decision on the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

'Congress being the lead partner in the Front will take a decision only after taking the partners into confidence,' Chandy said, adding that he had already held discussions with Front allies like IUML, JDS, KC-M, KC-J and RSP (B).

Talks would also be held with other minor parties, he said and rejected the charge that Congress was neglecting the minor partners in the Front.

The Chief Minister refused to take any questions on the solar scam.

The cabinet revamp is part of an effort to improve the image of the Congress-led UDF government, which is under attack from CPI-M led LDF opposition over the solar panel scam that has brought the CM's office under a cloud.

The scam pertains to financial cheating of large number of people by main accused Saritha Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan. It took a serious political turn after arrest of a close personal aide of Chandy for his alleged links with the fraudsters.

Two other personal staff members of Chandy were removed and state Public Relations Director A Firoz was also arrested in a related case.