After the Congress, on Thursday, ended days of suspense and speculation over the post of Kerala chief minister, naming V.D. Satheesan as the man for the post, discussions have begun regarding the formation of the cabinet.
In the 21-member cabinet, the Congress will have 11 ministers, including the chief minister. It is not clear if all ministers will take the oath along with the chief minister on Monday.
Satheesan clarified that the party, after consulting with senior leaders, will decide on the ministers.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who lost the CM post to Satheesan, has ensured ministerial berths for his followers.
There is uncertainty over whether Ramesh Chennithala, who was in the race for the post of the CM, will accept a ministerial position. His absence from the legislative party meeting is seen as an attempt to express his dissatisfaction over the central leadership of the party denying him the post.
KPCC President Sunny Joseph and senior leaders Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and K. Muraleedharan have secured ministerial berths, according to a Malayala Manorama report. The names being considered for ministerial positions include N. Shakthan, P.C. Vishnu Nath, Bindu Krishna, M. Liju, Chandy Oommen, V.T. Balram, A.P. Anil Kumar, T.C. Siddique, and K. Jayanth. One of them will be the Speaker.
From the Muslim League, P.K. Kunhalikutty, P.K. Basheer, N. Shamsudheen, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, K.M. Shaji, Parayil Abdulla, V.E. Abdul Gafoor, A.K.M. Ashraf, and Aabid Hussain Thangal are being considered.
The Kerala Congress is likely to demand two ministers, but may settle for one ministerial post and the deputy speaker or chief whip position. Mons Joseph, Thomas Unniyadan, and Apu John Joseph have a chance to become ministers. Shibu Baby John of RSP and Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress (Jacob) could also be given the posts.
From other coalition partners, C.P. John and Mani C. Kappan may also become ministers.
Meanwhile, Satheesan thanked the party high command for giving him such a "huge responsibility" and vowed to fulfil the promises made to people prior to the polls.
"The people of Kerala have given us a big responsibility. They ended a 10-year-long Left rule and gave us power by helping us win 102 of the 140 assembly seats. So, what we promised to the public, we will fulfil one by one.
"We will all work hard with devotion to improve the living standards of the people, change Kerala, create a new Kerala and start a 'puthu yugam' (new era)," he asserted.
