THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ganesh Kumar will likely be given the forest department in the cabinet reshuffle in November. Ganesh Kumar had already informed the Left Front leadership that he did not want the transport portfolio and had criticized the transport department.

The proposal is to give the transport department to Forest Minister AK Saseendran. Ganesh Kumar wants to have a cultural department that includes cinema, but he is convinced that the CPM will not give the portfolio.

Thomas K Thomas demands that NCP's AK Saseendran replace him as minister.

During the first Pinarayi government, AK Saseendran was the Transport Minister. It was Saseendran who initiated reform programs including the implementation of the Prof. Sushil Khanna report. He has also been able to go on strike with labor unions.

If Saseendran becomes the minister, KSRTC MD Biju Prabhakar will remain in the post. Biju Prabhakar will be on leave for one and a half months from today. Biju Prabhakar had earlier approached the Chief Secretary expressing his willingness to resign from the post of CMD. However even senior IAS officers are not interested in becoming the head of KSRTC.