THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to speculations, any major change in the portfolios of ministers in the Oommen Chandy Government in the coming days, against the backdrop of the expected induction of Anoop Jacob into the cabinet, is a distant possibility. “It is too premature to comment on it. No concrete discussions have been held so far in any forums of the UDF,” KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said.
Speculations are rife that Anoop Jacob may not be given plum portfolios being a first time MLA, though Kerala Congress (Jacob) is keen to get Food and Civil Supplies and Registration, held by T M Jacob.
The government is yet to seek a date of Governor H R Bharadwaj for holding the swearing-in ceremony. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is yet to open up his mind. He has conveyed to Anoop that the swearing-in will be held after getting a convenient date of the Governor, who is also in charge of Karnataka.
According to indications, since the Neyyattinkara bypoll is also aimed as a political leverage by the UDF, ruffling the government too much will not be resorted to. Chandy will be in New Delhi next week and an official communication to the Governor is expected only after a while.
Though there is no doubt about the induction of Anoop Jacob into the Chandy Government, the propaganda is that he will be given only minor portfolios, to start with.
“I’m not for any controversy. No one, including the Chief Minister, had informed me anything on the portfolios. Everybody knows me and my family. My background and involvement is known to all leaders. They will not harm me,” Anoop Jacob told Express. “I personally feel that there won’t be any hitch in allotting the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio. But then, I’m not for making an issue out of it,” he said.
“What has come out so far on portfolio allocation are only mere speculations,” Chennithala said. A meeting of the UDF is slated in the KPCC office here on March 28.