Kerala   

Calling the shots

It took just one meeting for the former Minister P.J. Joseph to prove that he still calls the shots in the Public Works Department. After weeks of dithering, even in the face of an agitation launched by the Opposition parties, officials in the department finally got down to initiating work on repairing the badly potholed MC Road.

On Monday, Mr. Joseph convened a meeting with Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla to sort out the stalemate. Acting on his party chairman's directive, Mr. Kuruvilla met top officials. Within hours, the department machinery swung into action. Contractors who had been reluctant to take up the work also came forward to resume it on a war-footing.

Mr. Joseph who was forced to step down and install his party colleague as minister in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, has left little doubt about who holds the reins of the department.

T. NANDAKUMAR

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