Chandy to draft his action plan for 100 days

‘‘There were several lapses in the functioning of the UDF during the last three years. All leaders, including me, are responsible for this,’’ he said. Chandy reiterated that the decision to drop the Kerala Congress factions led by T.M. Jacob and R. Balakrishna Pillai from the ministry was taken by the high command as part of its hard stance against those who had worked against the interests of the UDF.

On K. Karunakaran’s unhappiness about Cabinet expansion, Chandy said he himself was not fully satisfied. ‘‘I have my own limitations. However, I had tried not to do injustice to anyone,’’ he said.

Chandy said his government had no plans to increase the retirement age of employees as it would affect the future of hundreds of thousands of jobless youths.

He said that he would soon convene a meeting of leaders of all parties to discuss issues concerning the development of the state. The issue of loss-making PSUs would also be discussed with the Opposition, he said.

The present government was the continuation of the Antony regime. So the same policies would continue, he said. Chandy said there would not be a new Deputy Speaker.‘‘Why should there be a new Deputy Speaker when there is one already?’’

To a query, Chandy said it was inhuman to prolong the detention of PDP leader Abdul Nazar Madhani, who was in Coimbatore.