Portfolio row resolved: K Muraleedharan pacified by Congress leadership ahead of oath-taking
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership has successfully pacified senior leader K. Muraleedharan after he openly expressed intense dissatisfaction with the portfolio initially allocated to him in the newly formed V.D. Satheesan-led cabinet.
During the initial phase of portfolio distribution, Muraleedharan was assigned the Power Department. Strongly displeased with the decision, he adopted an unyielding stance, threatening to skip the swearing-in ceremony if he was only given the charge of the Power ministry. This sudden rebellion by a veteran leader, coming just hours before the cabinet’s official oath-taking ceremony, pushed the party leadership into a tight spot.
Following emergency high-level discussions to defuse the crisis, the leadership relented, ultimately deciding to allocate the high-profile Health and Devaswom portfolios to Muraleedharan.
Earlier reports had tipped Muraleedharan for the Health Ministry. However, as the K.C. Venugopal faction asserted its dominance during final cabinet negotiations, the Health portfolio was initially diverted to A.P. Anil Kumar, a close confidant of Venugopal. This sudden shift triggered Muraleedharan’s fierce protest and subsequent boycott threat. The swift resolution of the deadlock has brought significant relief to the Congress camp.
With the internal rift settled, the Congress lineup in the new cabinet features:
- Chief Minister: V.D. Satheesan
- Ministers: Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, A.P. Anil Kumar, Bindu Krishna, Sunny Joseph, P.C. Vishnunath, Roji M. John, T. Siddique, M. Liju, K.A. Thulasi, and O.J. Janeesh.
Additionally, veteran leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been chosen as the Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will take over as the Deputy Speaker. The Chief Whip post has been allocated to the Kerala Congress.