Fresh faces, hard bargains mark Satheesan cabinet as UDF back in saddle after decade
Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 (IANS) Bringing an end to days of intense negotiations and political uncertainty, Kerala’s United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Wednesday finally completed the allocation of portfolios in the 21-member ministry led by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, marking the formal beginning of a new political chapter in the state.
The last time a Congress-led UDF government assumed office in the state was in 2011 under the leadership of Oommen Chandy. The new ministry, however, reflects a striking generational shift within the Congress and the UDF, with a large number of fresh faces entering the Cabinet for the first time.
In a significant political transition, 14 members of the Cabinet, including Satheesan himself, are becoming ministers for the first time. Of these, six leaders have entered the ministry as first-time MLAs, underlining the party’s attempt to project a younger and newer leadership after the UDF’s sweeping victory in the Assembly elections.
Another notable feature of the ministry is that, for the first time in Kerala’s recent political history, the Congress has included two women ministers in the Cabinet.
Congress leader Bindu Krishna has been entrusted with the Labour portfolio, while K.A.Thulasi, wife of Palakkad Congress MP V.K.Sreekandan, also found a place in the ministry, signalling a conscious effort towards broader representation within the party structure.
Thulasi got Welfare of Scheduled Caste, Tribe, and Backward Classes.
New face M.Liju got the prized portfolio of Excise and Cooperation.
The finalisation of portfolios came only after days of hectic consultations, factional pressure, and bargaining within both the Congress and its coalition partners.
The sharpest debate centred around the Fisheries portfolio allotted to the Indian Union Muslim League.
The Latin Catholic Church had openly opposed the move, demanding that the department remain with the Congress, arguing that the coastal community had not received adequate representation in the ministry.
The Muslim League, however, stood firm and reportedly insisted that if Fisheries was to be surrendered, it should instead receive the Higher Education portfolio, a proposal resisted by both the Congress leadership and sections within the Church.
Eventually, the UDF decided to retain Fisheries with the League, with V.E. Abdul Gafoor taking charge of the department.
Congress factional equations also contributed to the delay.
The tussle over the Health portfolio between K. Muraleedharan and A. P. Anil Kumar became one of the major sticking points before the leadership eventually allotted Health and Devasom to Muraleedharan and Revenue to Anil Kumar.
In a significant departure from convention, Satheesan chose to retain Finance, Law, General Administration, and Ports, while handing over the powerful Home and Vigilance portfolios to senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala.
Among the prominent allocations, P. K. Kunhalikutty received Industries and IT, P. C. Vishnunath was given Tourism, Culture, and Cinema, while K. M. Shaji took charge of Local Self-Government.
Meanwhile, veteran CPI-M rebel G. Sudhakaran, elected from Ambalappuzha with UDF backing, was sworn in as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly by Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the newly elected legislators will be sworn in under the watchful eyes of Sudhakaran.
–IANS
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