Post-IUML berth demand,Congress plans reshuffle

The fresh bout of deadlock began with IUML pushing ahead its unilateral decision to have a fifth minister from the party two weeks ago after Piravom bypoll result was announced

The Indian Union Muslim Leagues demand for a fifth berth in the UDF Cabinet has left the Congress torn between the interests of religious forces and communal equilibrium in the government. As every community leader or community-based political party is engaged in the exercise of sizing up own representation in the 20-strong Cabinet,the Congress is mulling a reshuffle in the government to keep communities in good homour.

The fresh bout of deadlock began with IUML pushing ahead its unilateral decision to have a fifth minister from the party two weeks ago after Piravom bypoll result was announced. The party wanted its legislator M Ali to be sworn in as a minister,along with bypoll winner Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress Jacob.

However,the mood in the Congress was against giving a fifth slot for the IUML,which already has four ministers. The state Congress fears that a fifth minister from IUML would upset the communal equation in the Cabinet and trigger a Hindu blacklash in the ensuing bypoll. With Jacob slated to join as a minister,the minority representation in the ministry would go up to 11. That apart,government chief whip,in the rank of a minister,is a Christian.

Last week,CM Oommen Chandy and partys state president Ramesh Chennithala held discussions with the central leaders,but a decision remained elusive. Chennithala will fly to Delhi on Monday for another discussion.

A fifth minister is entitled for the IUML. Muslims do not have a representation to the level the Christians have in the Cabinet. Its unfortunate that the issue is being given a communal angle, says IUML general secretary K P A Majeed.

Upper class Hindu Nair leader Sukumaran Nair warned the government against increasing Muslim representation. The CM should have the political will power to reject the demand. The IUML demand would further vitiate the communally-surcharged politics in Kerala, he said.

Now,Congress is working on a plan to increase upper class Hindu Nair representation in the Cabinet while accommodating IUML interest in the government in a different way. The IUML has been offered the Speakers post,now held by Congresss G Karthikeyan. The Speaker,a Nair,would be adequately rehabilitated either in the party or government. Several discussions are going on. I have not taken a decision, said Karthikeyan,reportedly against joining the Cabinet.

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The IUML has not officially responded to compromising with Speakers post. If acceptable,one of its ministers would have to resign to become the Speaker,while Ali would join the Cabinet.