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Monday, May 23, 2011
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IUML springs a surprise by naming five Ministers

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananathapuram: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sprang a surprise on Sunday by announcing the names of five nominees in the Oommen Chandy Cabinet as against the four allotted to it as part of the United Democratic Front's (UDF) formula. Only three Ministers will be sworn in on Monday along with nine Congress Ministers.

Announcing the names of the Ministers along with their portfolios, IUML State president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal said P.K. Kunhalikutty, who was sworn in as Minister earlier this week, would hold the portfolios of Industry, Information Technology and Urban Development. The other IUML Ministers are: M.K. Muneer (Panchayat and Social Welfare), V.K. Ebrahim Kunju (Public Works) and Abdu Rabb (Education). Manjalamkuzhi Ali, who parted ways with the Left Democratic Front to join the IUML a few months ago, would be a Minister subject to further discussions in the UDF. Mr. Thangal said the party had proposed the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio for him, but this would be decided only after discussions in the UDF. Mr. Ali will not participate in the swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Mr. Kunhalikutty, who was present at the press conference, said the posts of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister had been kept aside as a separate unit. Mr. Thangal said Dr. Muneer had resigned as chairman of the Indiavision channel in deference to the party's direction. Dr. Muneer had got caught in a controversy over the manner in which the channel had been covering the ice-cream parlour case against Mr. Kunhalikutty.

Mr. Abdu Rabb is the only newcomer in the IUML team, but he has been a member of the Assembly since 1996, having represented the Tanur seat twice and Manjeri once. This time, he was elected from Tirurangadi.

Mr. Rabb is also considered as an insider in Muslim League circles owing to the fact that he is the son of the late Avukhaderkutty Naha, who was Deputy Chief Minister in the 1982 K. Karunakaran Ministry.

Mr. Rabb has been patiently waiting in the sidelines since losing out in the ministerial race in 2001.

Mr. Ebrahim Kunju was a Minister in the 2005-06 Chandy Cabinet. He came in as a stand-in for Mr. Kunhalikutty who had to resign following the controversy over the ice-cream parlour case. Dr. Muneer was Public Works Minister in the A.K. Antony and Chandy Cabinets. IUML leaders held discussions with the Chief Minister late Saturday night on its demand for an additional berth in his Cabinet. Following this, the IUML leaders met in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning prior to making the announcement.

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