MLA K B Ganesh Kumar's ministerial berth withering away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ganesh Kumar's ministerial hope in Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet has gone into shambles after CBI released a report regarding 'Solar case' that rightly pointed to the Pathanapuram MLA’s sleight hand in tarnishing Former CM Oommen Chandy’s repute. Ganesh was already in the crosshairs with CPM leadership for openly lamenting certain ministers' inept approaches in public stages. It has thus made things easy for CPM leadership to obliterate Ganesh’s hope in a canter without worrying over the political retribution.

The left front is caught in a morass over the CBI report as it was they who salvaged most from the solar case and it was the same issue that gave the party an extended rope to return back to power in Kerala. CPM is distancing away from giving the minster post to Ganesh since the outcome can cause huge damage to upcoming elections in Pathanapuram, which is a UDF bastion.

Last day, LDF convener EP Jayarajan had stated that the party would keep the promise to the constituent parties. It is agreed that Antony Raju of the Democratic Kerala Congress and Ahmed Devarkovil of INL should resign in November when the government completes two and a half years of rule.

To fill the void, the ministerial berth was promised to Kerala Congress B's K B Ganesh Kumar and Congress S's Kadannappalli Ramachandran. According to the terms, Antony Raju's transport department should go to Ganesh Kumar and Ahmed Devarkovil's port department to Kadannappalli.

Ganesh Kumar was the former transport minister in Oommen Chandy’s cabinet. Kadannappalli was the port minister in the first Pinarayi government.

There are no obstacles for Kadannappalli to become a minister. However, Ganesh’s path is filled with thorns. A case regarding family property is still in contention of the court and the current embarrassment of the CBI report comes as an addendum to the already convoluted troubles.

According to reports, Ganesh Kumar was mulling over a return to the UDF camp with the tacit backing of certain congress leaders. With the release of the CBI report, the UDF has decided to shut the door towards the Pathanapuram MLA.