Kerala's Chief Minister-elect V. D.Satheesan has submitted the list of ministers to the Governor. The Congress leader addressed a press conference after he returned from Raj Bhavan on Sunday evening. A total of 21 members will be sworn in on Monday. He confirmed that the entire cabinet will take the oath alongside the Chief Minister.
Here are five updates about the Kerala cabinet that will interest you:
1. The Chief Minister-elect didn't clarify if the Kerala Congress (J) will get a second ministerial berth and Mani.C. Kappan's demand for a full five-year cabinet tenure will be fulfilled by the UDF.
2. "It is sad that several deserving people could not be considered when balancing various equations and factors," said V. D.Satheesan.
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3. P. K. Kunhalikutty, P. K. Basheer, N. Shamsudheen, K. M. Shaji, and V. E. Abdul Gafoor will become ministers. Parakkal Abdulla will become a minister after two-and-a-half years. A decision on who will be replaced will be taken later.
4. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will become the Speaker, while Shanimol Usman will be the Deputy Speaker. The post of Chief Whip will go to the Kerala Congress.
5. Portfolios:
- V. D.Satheesan – Finance, Ports, Law
- Ramesh Chennithala – Home Affairs, Vigilance
- Sunny Joseph – Revenue
- A. P. Anilkumar – Health
- K. Muraleedharan – Electricity/Power
- P. C. Vishnunath – Tourism, Culture
- M. Liju – Excise, Cooperation
- T. Siddique – Forest
- Bindu Krishna – Women and Child Welfare
- O. J. Janish – Youth Welfare
- Roji M. John – Higher Education