THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after his appointment as chairman of the Kerala State Welfare Corporation for Forward Communities (KSWCFC) with Cabinet rank, Kerala Congress Balakrishna Pillai(KC-B) chairman R Balakrishna Pillai on Thursday said the party’s major demand was its entry into the ruling CPM-led LDF.
Pillai told ‘Express’ as of now the party is keen on its LDF entry rather than securing a Cabinet berth.
“Isn’t it natural for any political party with at least an MLA to stake claim to a Cabinet berth? However, the major demand the KC(B) has made is its entry into the LDF. We have already raised it before the LDF and are hopeful the front will look into it,” he said.
Pillai said as chairman of the Forward Communities’ Corporation, he will function with only skeleton staff.
“Also,a majority of the personal staff members will comprise those who are already government staffers. This will ensure the government does not incur additional expenses. I’m not planning to have any gunman(personal security officer), escort vehicle or any other personal staff,” he said.
Pillai said no decision has been taken when to assume office. The projects initiated during his earlier term will be continued. One of the major tasks will be to ensure the availability of Central funds, he said.
‘LDF should apologise to people’
The CPM-led LDF should apologise to the people for appointing R Balakrishna Pillai as the chairman of the State Welfare Corporation for Forward Communities, demanded Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. Chennithala said: “The same persons who had aired criticism against the UDF decision to appoint Balakrishna Pillai as chairman of the corporation a couple of years ago have forgotten that and have made him the chairman now after switching sides.”
It was a collective decision: Kanam
It was a collective decision of the LDF to make R Balakrishna Pillai the chairman of the State Forward Communities Welfare Corporation, said CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran. “Prior to joining the LDF, Balakrishna Pillai was the Chairman of the State Forward Communities Welfare Corporation. He joined the LDF after resigning from the post. He was again made chairman of the Corporation following a collective decision taken by the LDF,” Kanam told reporters here on Thursday.