The move to create the post of Deputy Chief Minister to accommodate KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala in the Oommen Chandy Cabinet has invited strong criticism from the IUML.
The party secretariat is holding an emergency meet here on Thursday to discuss the issue. A meeting of the UDF is also scheduled here tomorrow morning.
The IUML has also staked its claim for the post, making it clear that the Congress cannot take a decision single-handedly on this score.
Chandy maintained that no final decision has been taken on the Deputy CM post. “How can I take such a decision without discussing it in the UDF and availing the permission of the Congress high command,” he said while replying to the queries of mediapersons in this regard. “I will convey the details of the discussions to the high command. I will not take any final decision on my own,” Chandy added.
The Kerala Congress(M) also maintained that the matter should be discussed in the UDF, while making it clear that it is not a claimant to the post.
The CMP, one of the disgruntled partners, also objected to the manner in which the Deputy CM post is touted without any discussion in the UDF.
IUML leader and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said the matter has not been discussed at all in the UDF. “Nothing can be derived on the basis of newspaper reports. Nor was there any discussion between the Congress and IUML on it. There is no indication that a decision on the Deputy CM has been taken,” he added.
Another IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer maintained: “First of all, whether a Deputy CM is necessary in Kerala has to be discussed seriously. The rightful claim of the IUML for the post should also be discussed”.
Meanwhile, Chandy put all the blame on the media for reporting ‘falsehood’ on Congress affairs.