THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala leadership of the CPI has picked K. P. Rajendran, C. Divakaran, Benoy Viswam and Mullakkara Rathnakaran as its nominees in the LDF Cabinet. The party has also decided to make Jose Baby the Deputy Speaker.

Deliberations

All the CPI Ministers are new faces in the Government. Mr. Rajendran and Mr. Viswam were members of the last Assembly and were leader and deputy leader respectively of the CPI Legislature Party. Mr. Divakaran and Mr. Rathnakaran are first-time MLAs. Mr. Baby was a member of the House from 1996 to 2001.

The CPI leadership chose their Ministerial and Deputy Speaker nominees after protracted deliberations spread over the last two days and after taking into consideration questions of regional and communal representation. Mr. Rajendran will in all probability be the CPI Legislature Party leader. The formal election of the leader and other office-bearers of the CPI Legislature Party will take place at the Legislature Party meeting here on Thursday.

The portfolios that are likely to be allotted to the CPI include Revenue, Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies and Forest.

The CPI(M) has decided to take over Law and Tourism.This has resulted in sharp criticism from the CPI leaders. The RSP has been offered Irrigation. The party has been told to part with Labour, which has rested with the party in all previous LDF Governments.

The CPI(M) Legislature Party will meet at 10 a. m. to elect its leaders and other office-bearers. Chief Minister-designate V. S. Achuthanandan will call on Governor R. L. Bhatia after the Legislature Party meeting to stake claim to form the new Government.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail