Kerala Cabinet reshuffle on the cards

Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ramesh Chennithala may get Home

Discussions with chief minister Oommen Chandy, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ramesh Chennithala and Congress high command on Sunday and Monday will be crucial for the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala.

It is learned that the high command is now in favour of inducting Ramesh into the Cabinet to pacify the group rivalry within the party and for communal balancing in the Cabinet. But Ramesh and the I faction do not want to be a part of the Cabinet as the image of the government has taken a hit due to solar power scam. However, Ramesh has said he would abide by the high command decision.

Another major hurdle is the portfolio. Ramesh and the I faction want Home.

A few months ago Chandy had asked Ramesh to join the Cabinet. But the chief minister was reluctant to give Home, which is now with Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, one of his close aide. Now Chandy and the A group are ready to 'sacrifice' Home to tide over the tough political situation. It is now proposed that Ramesh be the Home minister, speaker G Karthikeyan the new PCC chief and Thiruvanchoor will hold the post of the Speaker. The reshuffle is likely to be finalised in Delhi next week.

An I group MLA said accepting the Home portfolio would be a tight rope walk for Ramesh as investigation into solar scam reveals the involvement of several ministers and UDF leaders in it.