Ker Speaker's move revives factional trends in Congress

The move by state Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan to quit his post eyeing to return to active politics has revived dormant factional trends in Congress in Kerala with a section in the party averse to the idea of possible cabinet reshuffle to accommodate him.
Karthikeyan's announcement that he was keen to resign as Speaker with the approval of the party leadership has triggered a debate within the party over the possible reshuffle of the ministry headed Oommen Chandy.
A faction in the state unit, identified as "I" group, is averse to effecting a thorough revamp of the ministry to accommodate Karthikeyan with a key portfolio.

UDF Convenor P P Thankachan said resignation of Karthikeyan would not automatically mean that he should be given a cabinet post. "It is for the Chief Minister and the party to take a call on it."
He also said it was "not politically wise" to go for a thorough ministry reshuffle at this juncture.
Chief Minister Chandy, however, declined to give any clue of the way things are going to work out even as he vehemently dismissed suggestions that the development is likely to lead to a churning in the party.

"You (media) are trying to make an issue out of a non-issue. Why should I react when you ask me about reports which you have created yourself," Chandy shot back when reporters confronted him with questions about the development.

According to party sources, Chandy is slated to visit Delhi later this month to discuss the issue with the central leadership.
Karthikeyan had yesterday said he has sought the approval of Congress leadership to resign so that he could return to active politics, leading to speculations of a reshuffle of the Congress nominees in the UDF Ministry to accommodate him in the cabinet with a key portfolio.