Ramesh Chennithala refuses to join Kerala Cabinet

Ramesh has turned down the proposal stating he was more comfortable preparing the party for the Lok Sabha elections

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy who was on a two-day visit to Delhi to get Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ramesh Chennithala inducted into his cabinet, failed to achieve his mission.

AICC General secretary Mukul Wasnik, who is in charge of Kerala affairs, insisted Chennithala join the Cabinet to end the group rivalry in the state wing of Congress.

Chennithala has turned down the proposal stating he was more comfortable preparing partyrfor the Lok Sabha elections.

Though Chennithala had discussed the issues relating to Kerala with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, it is learned that she did not compel him to join the Cabinet.

There is also a stalemate over the portfolio to be given to Ramesh if he joins the Cabinet. Chandy had offered him two options - deputy chief minister with Revenue portfolio or Revenue and KPCC chief. Chandy is also ready to give him Home.

But the A faction has opposed this and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who is currently home minister and also a close aide of Chandy, is not ready to quit.

Chandy himself is apprehensive to hand over Home to Chennithala as there are several allegations under various stages of investigation against the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues. The solar power scam and the alleged sex scandal are now major political issues in the state and there are allegations against at least two ministers and several MLAs in the case.

However, Chandy on Wednesday told mediapersons that the issue of inducting Chennithala would be discussed with the leaders of the constituent parties in the UDF.

For giving the deputy chief minister post to Chennithala, Chandy has to get the consent of the Kerala Congress (Mani) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Though Mani is ready, he wants a berth for his son Jose K Mani in the central Cabinet.