The Hindu : Front Page : Kuruvilla's swearing-in may have to wait

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Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006

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Kuruvilla's swearing-in may have to wait

Special Correspondent

T.U. Kuruvilla

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (Joseph) nominee T.U. Kuruvilla's swearing-in as Minister in the Left Democratic Frnot (LDF) Cabinet may have to wait till next week, but is certain to be held before the week is out.

The Kerala Congress (Joseph) leadership wanted the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. But they knew only later that Governor R.L. Bhatia was away and would be back only on September 12.

The Governor is on a visit to his home State. He is expected to fly into Kochi and is scheduled to participate in various functions in Kochi and nearby areas on September 12 and 13. He may have to cut short his visit or fly to the State capital if the swearing-in is to take place by early next week.

Even a change in the Governor's Kochi itinerary may not help because Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would be away in Kolkata to attend a meeting of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau on September 12 and 13. He would be back in the State only on September 14. He would fly into Kochi on that day and is scheduled to attend a meeting of the director board of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) that evening.

He is scheduled to inaugurate the annual conference of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) the following morning before returning to Thiruvananthapuram. The Chief Minister is unlikely to change his travel plans for the swearing-in and might insist on it being held either before he leaves for Kolkata or after his return to the State.

Cabinet meet on Friday

The Cabinet is meeting on Friday and is likely to discuss the report submitted by Inspector General of Police B. Sandhya relating to the allegation of misbehaviour towards a woman co-passenger against P.J. Joseph. The IG came to the conclusion that Mr. Joseph outraged the modesty of the woman in question. Mr. Joseph contested the findings both before and after submitting his resignation to the Chief Minister here on Sunday and he was insisting on a further inquiry into the whole episode to clear his name. The Cabinet is likely to take a decision on his demand after considering the report.

There is the need to have the swearing-in ceremony before the week is out because the next session of the Assembly is likely to begin on September 18. Friday's Cabinet meeting is likely to recommend convening of the House from that date. If that is the Government's plan, it will also have to ensure that the new Minister gets sufficient time to familiarise with the department before the session gets under way.

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