<p>Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala on Friday declined the offer to enter the Kerala state cabinet, ending prolonged deliberations on the issue and bringing the focus back on the rift within party’s state unit. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The PCC chief’s announcement in New Delhi was sudden and unexpected, since reports as late as Friday afternoon were pointing out his entry into the cabinet with the possibility of him being given the position of deputy chief minister. <br /><br />While the KPCC president’s decision formally ends discussions between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Congress’ central leadership, it also brings more attention to power struggles within the party and the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). <br /><br />Chennithala said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has agreed to let him continue as KPCC chief and bolster the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. <br /><br />However, he made no effort to hide his “disappointment” at being dragged into discussions over positions in government that he did not asked for.<br /><br />Chennithala’s entry to the state cabinet has been put aside for the second time in as many months. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the biggest ally of Congress in the coalition, has been opposing the creation of the deputy chief minister position without consultations, with other coalition partners also criticising the big brotherly attitude of the Congress. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala on Friday declined the offer to enter the Kerala state cabinet, ending prolonged deliberations on the issue and bringing the focus back on the rift within party’s state unit. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The PCC chief’s announcement in New Delhi was sudden and unexpected, since reports as late as Friday afternoon were pointing out his entry into the cabinet with the possibility of him being given the position of deputy chief minister. <br /><br />While the KPCC president’s decision formally ends discussions between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Congress’ central leadership, it also brings more attention to power struggles within the party and the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). <br /><br />Chennithala said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has agreed to let him continue as KPCC chief and bolster the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. <br /><br />However, he made no effort to hide his “disappointment” at being dragged into discussions over positions in government that he did not asked for.<br /><br />Chennithala’s entry to the state cabinet has been put aside for the second time in as many months. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the biggest ally of Congress in the coalition, has been opposing the creation of the deputy chief minister position without consultations, with other coalition partners also criticising the big brotherly attitude of the Congress. <br /><br /></p>
