THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ruled out any leadership change in the Oommen Chandy-led government but asserted that he is keen to see that mistakes and shortcomings of the government are corrected for a repeat victory and continuation of UDF rule in the state.
“Leadership change is not on the agenda of anyone,” Ramesh said. “The UDF Government cannot be toppled and it will complete its full term,” he said, adding that any attempt to wean away UDF partners will not work.
Ramesh who was guarded in his responses to queries on the alleged demand raised for leadership change, said there is no need for any discussion on the issue now. Asked on why the ‘I’ group is not pressing for such a change in the wake of the government taking a beating following repeated controversies and allegations and when there had been instances also when the late K Karunakaran had to make way for A K Antony and Oommen Chandy himself taking over for the latter, Ramesh evaded the question, saying he didn’t want to dwell into the past.
Ramesh said the UDF is in a 24 x 7 mode now after the Kovalam meet and the UDF has a very good chance to stage a repeat victory in the Assembly elections. “For that, there should be more cohesiveness and better bond among coalition partners in the functioning of the government. Everyone in the UDF should introspect. The government has done so many good things in the past four years but there is a feeling that it has not reached the people to a desired level. There may be many shortcomings also on the part of the government. Shortcomings should be admitted before the people and corrective steps have to be taken,” he said.
“Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V M Sudheeran and myself would work together for positioning the Congress and UDF on a strong wicket in the coming elections,” he said.
He said that there are three elections in the near future beginning with the Aruvikkara Assembly bypoll,local bodies poll and Assembly polls. “The tide is in favour of the UDF. The clout of the LDF is on the wane both at the national level and in the state. The CPM is groping in the dark and is in a state of confusion,” he said.