Talks for ministry formation in Kerala

With the Congress-led UDF Ministry in Kerala headed by Oommen Chandy slated to be sworn in on May 18, internal and bilateral parleys among Congress and Front partners to form the cabinet gained momentum today.In the 21-member cabinet to be sworn in, the second largest partner Indian Union Muslim League with 20 MLAs and KC-M with nine MLAs have staked claim for five and four berths respectively in the ministry, UDF sources said.However, as per indications, KC-M would be satisfied with two ministerial berths and the post of Deputy Speaker K.M.Mani Finance,Law & Housing sources said. In the case of IUML, the party would not press their demand, if their demand for choice of porfolios were met.IUML got Four Ministers , PWD,education,LSGD,Industries.A consensus has been reached in the UDF to accommodate all the three single-member parties like KC-J, KC-B and RSP-B.With this, it is certain now that T M Jacob of KC-J, Shibu Baby Johan of RSP-B and K B Ganeshkumar of KC-B would become ministers.T.M.Jacob - Food and Civil Supply, Shibu Baby John - Labour,K.B.Ganesh Kumar - Tourism, SJD, the other partner which has two members in the new house is meeting later this evening and is most likely to choose K P Mohanan, elected from Koothuparamba as party's ministerial candidate.K.P.Mohanan - Agriculture According to Congress sources, a general agreement on list of Congress ministers in the cabinet had been arrived at and it would be submitted to the high command for approval.Among the probables in Congress list are senior legislators Arayadan Muhammed, K C Joseph, G Karthikeyan, P K Jayalakshmy, K Babu, T N Prathapan and Adoor Prakesh.Meanwhile, IUML is meeting at Panakkad in Malappuram district to choose their ministerial nominees and leader of the party in the assembly.In the April 13 assembly elections, UDF wrested power from CPI-M-led LDF with a slender majority. UDF has got 72 seats in the 140-member House.