Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s attempt to find a solution to the impasse over the induction of Ramesh Chennithala into the Cabinet, taking into confidence the IUML and the KC(M), backfired with smaller constituent partners in the UDF alleging that they are being sidelined in the talks.
A day after Chandy held separate discussions with KC(M) leader K M Mani and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, other smaller parties in the UDF fold - KC(B), KC(J), CMP and JSS - were up in arms on Wednesday against the Congress and the Chief Minister for ignoring them in the Cabinet reshuffle talks.
UDF Convenor P P Thankachan himself came out in the open saying that he was kept in the dark regarding discussion with the UDF partners on Cabinet reshuffle. ‘’I was unaware of the talks held by the Chief Minister with Mani and Kunhalikutty on Cabinet reshuffle. Usually, when any discussion takes place, the UDF Convenor is informed about it in advance, but this time I was unaware of any such discussions,’’ he said, adding that any decision regarding Cabinet reshuffle would be taken after discussing with the UDF partners.
KC(B) chairman R Balakrishna Pillai and KC(J) leader Johny Nelloor severely criticised the Congress for not informing them anything about the Cabinet reshuffle. ‘’It is for the first time that the UDF has stooped to such a level that coalition partners are not taken into confidence before a Cabinet reshuffle,’’ said Johny Neloor. Pillai said that the Congress had completely ignored his party regarding the Cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, Chandy said that he would hold talks with all UDF constituents regarding the Cabinet reshuffle and the final decision would be taken by the Congress high command. ‘’I held discussion with M P Veerendrakumar, Anoop Jacob and Shibu Baby John. Discussions will be held with other coalition partners, including KC(B), CMP and JSS. A decision on Cabinet reshuffle will be taken after taking all coalition partners into confidence,’’ Chandy said.
My phone calls being tapped’
Government Chief Whip P C George on Wednesday alleged that his phone calls were being tapped. George has written to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Speaker G Karthikeyan seeking an inquiry into the issue. In his letter, he alleged that his friends’ phones were also being tapped. He urged the Chief Minister to seek clarification from Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on the issue.