Saji Cherian becomes seventh person to be sworn in twice as minister in the same cabinet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Saji Cherian is the first minister to return to the same cabinet within six months after resigning from the ministry. He is also the seventh person to be re-inducted into the same cabinet from which he resigned.

Saji Cherian resigned on July 6 last year. He had to stay out of the cabinet for only 182 days. Saji's return was expected when the CPM did not appoint another minister when he resigned.

PJ Joseph had to stay out for the longest time among those who resigned from a cabinet and returned to the same cabinet. He resigned from the 2006 VS cabinet on September 4, 2006 and returned after two years, eleven months and 13 days. He had to stay out for 1078 days. He returned to the ministry on August 17, 2009. However, he resigned again on April 30, 2010 without completing his term. The resignation came after the Kerala Congress decided to leave the Left Front.

CH Muhammad Koya and KM Mani resigned from AK Antony’s first cabinet in December 20 and 21, 1977. On September 16, 1978, K.M. Mani returned to cabinet and Koya on October 4th. R Balakrishna Pillai who resigned from the third Karunakaran cabinet on June 5, 1985 returned on 25 May 1986 after 354 days of waiting.

EP Jayarajan who resigned from the first Pinarayi Cabinet on October 14, 2016. returned on August 14, 2018 and A.K. Saseendran who resigned on March 27, 2017, returned on February 2, 2018.