As backroom negotiations for the badly-needed image makeover to the two-year-old UDF Government are progressing in New Delhi, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is expected to reach the national capital on Sunday, where KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala held discussions with AICC in-charge Mukul Wasnik on Saturday.
Crucial talks between Chandy and top Congress leaders including president Sonia Gandhi are slated for Monday.
It is learnt that Ramesh was told by Wasnik that the Chief Minister’s camp has informed the Congress high command about its decision to induct him into the Cabinet. Ramesh is tipped to get the Home portfolio.
However, Ramesh had earlier insisted that a Cabinet reshuffle won’t be a panacea for the ills plaguing the state government.
“I’m not the one to say something on the Cabinet. It is for the Chief Minister to decide”, Ramesh said, reflecting a climbdown from his tough stand against joining Chandy’s Cabinet at this juncture.
After the talks, Ramesh said he had apprised Wasnik and other prominent leaders of the current political situation in the state.
“The schedule for Sonia Gandhi’s proposed Kerala visit in the first week of September was also discussed,” Ramesh said.
“Issues related to the Cabinet were not discussed,” he said when prodded by mediapersons.
The IUML and Kerala Congress (M) have maintained that such discussions are imperative to solve the problems in the government, while making it clear that Chandy should stay at the helm.
Meanwhile, K Muraleedharan MLA made it clear that he does not want to join the Cabinet.