CPP to meet today to elect Kerala CM

Oommen Chandy is most likely to be elected the chief minister by the CPP in the present circumstances. Sources say that though Kerala PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala is also in contention, the party high command wants Chandy to lead the government.

This is in view of the narrow win that the UDF has registered and the impressive gains made by UDF allies like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kerala Congress (Mani) which calls for experienced handling of post-poll relations. Though Ch andy also happens to enjoy the majority support among the elected party MLAs, he is reported to have expressed his disinterest in taking up the top job if conditions are imposed on him.

AICC secretary in charge of Kerala  Madhusoodan Mistry and Congress Working Committee member Mohsina Kidwai are slated to arrive here on Sunday to attend the CPP meeting. The reduced number of seats and slender margin of victory are expected to pose problems for Chandy during the cabinet formation exercise.

Sources say that a 21-member UDF cabinet, including the chief minister, is likely to be put in place with the three singly represented parties getting a portfolio each. K B Ganeshkumar of the  Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai), Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John)’s Shibu Baby John and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T M Jacob may surely become ministers.

The IUML is likely to get five ministers while the Kerala Congress (Mani) is expected to get three leaving 10 ministers for the Congress party. Choosing ministers for the Congress is also not going to be easy as the party will have to strike a fine balance among various caste and social representations. Meanwhile, V S Achuthanandan met Governor R S Gawai here on Saturday and tendered his resignation. He will be continuing as caretaker CM till the formation of next government.