By TCN Staff Reporter,
Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as Kerala’s 21st chief minister today at Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Oommen has inducted six ministers in his cabinet—one from each ally of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). They include PK Kunhalikutty of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), KM Mani of the Kerala Congress (Mani), KP Mohanan of the Socialist Janata (Democratic) (SJ-D) party, TM Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob), KB Ganesh Kumar of Kerala Congress (Pillai) and Shibu Baby John of the RSP (B).
In the Assembly election whose result came out on May 13, Congress-led UDF got thin majority winning 72 seats over outgoing ruling alliance–CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF)–which secured 68 seats.
IUML emerged as second largest party in UDF alliance after Congress. IUML won 20 seats out of 24 it contested while it had only 7 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly house. The party has elected PK Kunhalikutty as its leader in the state assembly on May 16.
However, it will be second inning of Mr. Oommen as chief minister of the state. In 2004, he was removed from the post by Congress high command following the party defeat in Lok Sabha polls.
Though floor leaders of all six allies were sworn in today along with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the portfolios will be distributed later. Besides, the extension in the list of ministers will also be finalized after cabinet meeting and second swearing-in program is expected to be held on May 23.
Among those who attended the ceremony were outgoing Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, former minister and UDF leader KR Gowri, former Left ministers Thomas Issac, MA Baby, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal.