Kerala Cong chief declines to join Cabinet

Seventeen months into the Congress rule in the state, two prominent Hindu community organisations have now demanded the induction of Congress state president Ramesh Chennithala into the Cabinet. The party has been facing criticism for succumbing to the pressures exerted by community outfits in the UDF.

However, Chennithala has said that he has no plans to join the Cabinet. "If I wanted to become a minister, I could have materialised it at the time of the government formation," he said.

The demand was raised by Sree Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary and a prominent Hindu backward community leader Vellappally Nateshan. "He, being state party chief, had contested the election with an intention to enter into power politics. Congress state president should not confine himself to the post of legislator,'' said Natesan.

His view was seconded by Nair Service Society general secretary G Sukumaran Nair. "It would be a good move for the government,'' he said. Chennithala belongs to the Nair community.

While senior leader Aryadan Muhammed said Chennithala should be made deputy CM, K Muraleedharan said, "Oommen Chandy should not be toppled."

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