Jose faction likely to get three important departments, talks are as follows

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Jose K Mani faction is likely to get three important departments. The CPM has started talks on handing over power, public works and registration departments to the Kerala Congress. The CPM has informed Jose faction who demanded three ministerial berths, that only one can be given. With this, the Kerala Congress has raised the demand for a vital department.

The Kerala Congress has asked for public works, agriculture and irrigation departments. However, the CPI is of the stand that other than chief whip post, no other department can be given. The CPI got forest department when given law and tourism earlier.

The CPI leadership hints that it is not logical to ask agriculture department as the Kerala Congress had not even handled it in the UDF. The CPM is not ready to give up any crucial portfolios including finance, education, health, industry and local administration.

Following this, talks are held in the CPM in giving registration along with public works and power. Though it was a department ruled by the CPM, the leaders indicated giving power could not be ruled out. The CPM leaders said that since everything in the power department is controlled by the power board, giving up power will not be a loss.

Some CPM leaders share the concern that if the Kerala Congress gets Public Works Department handled by G Sudhakaran, who has not heard a bad name, there will be corruption. When P J Joseph was in the Left Front, education, public works and registration were for Kerala Congress. The CPI claimed that when P J Joseph left, all were taken over by the CPM itself and that the departments should be given to the Jose faction from this account.