The deadlock in the newly-formed Kerala Cabinet finally resolved after three days of negotiations with Chief Minister VD Satheesan submitting the list of portfolios for the new 21-member Cabinet to Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Wednesday and the Governor officially approving it.
As per the portfolio allocation, Chief Minister Satheesan retained crucial departments including Finance, Law General Administration and Ports, while senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala received the influential Home and Vigilance portfolios.
Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty has been allotted the Industries and IT portfolios. AP Anil Kumar was given the Revenue department, and Sunny Joseph was given the Electricity department along with Parliamentary Affairs. Muslim League leader V E Abdul Gafoor received the Fisheries portfolio.
Former KPCC President K Muraleedharan will be in charge of the Health, Devaswoms, Medical Education, Medical University, Indigenous Medicine, Ayush and Drug Control, Food Safety departments.
Other ministers:
PC Vishnunadh – Tourism, Culture, KSFDC, Chalachithra Academy, Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board
Roji M John –Higher Education, Technical Education, Universities (Except Agriculture, Veterinary, Fisheries, Medical and Digital Universities), Entrance Examination, National Cadet Corps, ASAP
Bindhu Krishna – Labour, Dairy Development & Milk Co-operatives, Women & Child Care
M Liju –Cooperation and Excise
T Siddique – Agriculture, Soil Survey & Soil Conservation, Kerala Agricultural University, Warehousing Corporation
KA Thulasi – Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward classes
OJ Janeesh – Sports, Youth Affairs, Zoo, Museum, Registration, Archaeology, Archives
N Samsudheen – General Education, Literacy Movement, Hajj, Wakf & Minority Development
KM Shaji – Panchayath, Municipality, Corporation, Town Planning, Rural Development, Regional Development Authorities, KILA
PK Basheer – Public Works Department
Mons Joseph – Irrigation, CADA, Groundwater Department, Water Supply & Sanitation, Housing
Shibu Baby John – Forests, Wild Protection, Skill Development (KASE)
Anoop Jacob – Food & Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology
CP John – Transport, Motor Vehicles, Water Transport
A major dispute within the Congress party regarding the Health and Devaswom portfolios significantly contributed to the initial delay in finalizing the cabinet list. The Chief Minister and KPCC leadership planned to allot the portfolios to senior leader A.P. Anil Kumar. However, K. Muraleedharan strongly objected to this decision, vehemently demanding the portfolios for himself. This escalated into an internal crisis when Muraleedharan threatened to skip the cabinet’s official functions. The party ultimately pacified him by promising him Health and Devaswom portfolios. However, A. P. Anil Kumar refused to back down from his claims regarding the health and devaswom departments.
The department of Fisheries was the other bone of contention after the Congress party claimed the Higher Education portfolio. In a reciprocal compromise, the IUML relented on its demand for a unified Education Ministry and accepted the Fisheries portfolio alongside General Education. While IUML was slated to take the Fisheries department, intense pressure from the Latin Catholic Church forced Congress to try and keep the portfolio. Compensating the IUML with the Higher Education department triggered further internal friction within the Congress camp. However, the deadlock has since been resolved, and the final portfolio allocations have been officially approved by the Kerala Governor.