OOMMEN CHANDY TAKING OATH - POOJA JAYAN

CAUSES AND REASONS

By Karthika C

The legislative assembly election result day became as curious as a 20-20 match as the seat ratio became 70-70 at times. From the beginning itself there was no visible margin for any front.

UDF expected an easy win which it procured in last Parliament and local body election.  But this easy sweep through win has been hindered by the steps taken by the V.S. Achuthanandan government and V.S. personally.

L.D.F government’s last steps of RS 20 and signing Smart city agreement with Tecom increased  their winning possibility.

Also, when analyzing the statewide result, we can see that the Christian –Muslim minority consolidation voted for UDF. This fera of minority consolidation made majority to vote for udf and turned them against LDF

As usual, UDF candidate list was announced last, whereas, most of the LDF candidates and BJP candidates had finished first round of campaigning. It was at the last movement that a conscience was arrived at with Kerala congress(m) and JSS. This created  an image of bargaining politics for UDF.

Frankly, the entrance of :”import candidates” and nominees of rahulgandhi made an avaersion in the mondes of the veteran leadrs. Candidates like K.T. benny  came forward against internal politics in congress that made his defeat in Chalakkudy constituency. Again, congress leaders like M.M Hassan, K. Ramachandran  and T.Siddique didn’t fin d their space in the candidate list. K.ramachandran came openlty against the state congress leadership and Ramesh Chennithala personnaly when seat was rejected.

Besides, the candidateship of ramesh Chennithala made people confused about the Chief Minister candidate of UDF.  A speculation that there is an internal war between Omman Chandi and Ramesh Chennithala spread through media.

Another factor is that most o the impartial voters casted their vote for LDF thinking that if LDF comes into power V.S. would surely become the Chief Minister. For most of the Keralites  Achuthanandan evolved as a Crusader against corruption. Also, ldf  got the invisible support of SNDP because V.S. Achuthanandan , the self projected CM candidate of ldf  is from that community

When scrutinizing the election trend , it is obvious that V.S. factor worked out. He personnally took steps  against corruption which were evident in Idamalayar case and Lottery case. The supreme court  verdict  convicting R. Balakrisshnapillai in Idamalayar case became a setback for  udf. It created an assumption in the minds of the people that corruption will be widespread if udf comes into power.

THE SHORTEST PERIOD..

By Muhammed Rashid

C.H. Muhammed Koya – The CM who remained in power for the shortest duration

A.C. Jose – Was the Speaker for the shortest period of time

C. Haridas -  Was MLA for the least no. of days (10 days)

A.K. Antony – The youngest person to become CM

A.A. Aziz -   Had the least majority in Legislative Assembly elections (5 votes,   Eravipuram constituency,2011 )

M.P. Virendrakumar – Was minister for the shortest period of time

6^th Legislative Assembly– The assembly that was in existence for the shortest duration (1980-82)

Ministry of K.Karunakaran – The ministry that was in power for the least no. of days (March-April,1977)

R.Balakrishna Pillai – The youngest person to become MLA (25 yrs)

1979 October 8^th – The Assembly sitting that lasted for the shortest time (2 minutes) 

KERALA 2011

by, Radhakrishna Bhatt

Total seats :140

UDF : 72

        Congress: 38 (82)

        Muslim League: 20 (24)

        Kerala Congress (M) :9 (15)

        Socialist Janatha (Demo): 2 (6)

        Kerala Congress (B) : 1 (3)

        R S P (Baby John) :1 (1)

LDF : 68

        CPM : 47* (83)*

        CPI : 13 (27)

        Janathadal (S): 4 (5)

       NCP: 2 (4)

       RSP: 2 (4)

*includes independent candidates

RECORD HOLDERS

by, Krishnapriya J.

The only person who has been a member of legislature, assembly speaker, home minister, minister of education, minister of public affairs, deputy chief minister and finally the chief minister of Kerala, happens to be none other than C H Muhammed koya.

The only chief minister of UDF who completed a tenure of 5 years in office is K Karunakaran (1982-1987)

V S Achuthanandan is the oldest person to became a member of legislature.

The minister who met with failure in by-election is none other than K Muralidharan.

Former Chief Minister of Kerala who was born in the 19^th century is Pattom Thanu Pillai

The keralite who honored the office of Kerala Governor is V.Viswanathan

The person who abandoned his minister ship for his father is K.B Ganesh Kumar. 

THE FIRST....

By Anwar 

C. Achutha Menon – The first CM to complete a full five-year term

C.H. Muhammed Koya – The first Muslim League Party Leader in the Assembly

C.H. Muhammed Koya – The first CM from the Muslim League

V.S. Achuthanandan -  The first CM in Kerala history to take the oath of office and enter into power outside the Rajbhavan

Alphons Kannanthanam – The first MLA in Kerala who was an IAS officer

C.H. Muhammed Koya - The first person to become Deputy CM after serving as CM

A.K. Antony – The first person to become Cabinet Minister after becoming  Kerala CM

The Legislative Assembly of 1965 – The only Assembly which was dissolved before assembling even once

R. Balakrishna Pillai & Ganesh Kumar – The first Father-Son duo who were MLAs simultaneously

Rosamma Punnoose – The first person to lose membership of the Legislative Assembly as a result of a court order

V.R. Krishnaiyyar – The first person to receive membership in the Legislative Assembly as a result of court order

K.R. Gowriamma – The first woman minister in the state

THE MOST NUMBER OF....

 By Divya Vasu

E.K. Nayanar – the person who has served as CM for the longest period of time

K. Karunakaran – the person who has been CM for the most no.of times

E.M.S. – Opposition leader for the longest period of time

C. Achutha Menon -  the person who led the government the longest period of time

Vakkom Purushottaman – Was the Legislative Assembly Speaker for the longest period

Stephen Padua – Was a nominated member of the Legislative Assembly for the most no. of times

K.M. Mani -  Has been minister for the longest period

C. Achutha Menon – Was CM for the longest consecutive period

V.S. Achuthanandan -  The oldest person to become CM

K.M. Mani – Won to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the same constituency the most no. of times

M. Chandran – Won to the Legislative Assembly with the highest majority of votes

(2006 Alathur constituency 47,671 votes majority)

M.V. Raghavan - Competed and won in the most no. of constituencies

Avukhadharkutty Naha – Was the deputy CM for the longest period of time

K.R. Gowriamma – Was the member of the most no. of Legislative Assemblies (12 times)

K.M. Mani – Presented the budget the most no. of times

4^th Kerala Legislative Assembly(1970-77) – The Legislative Assembly that had the longest term

1^st First Assembly of the first KLA,1959- Assembled for the most number of days(72 days)

1987 December 12^th Sitting- The Legislative Assembly of the longest duration.

(from 8.30 am to 4.30 am in the next  morning)

CHEIF MINISTERS OF KERALA 1957-2011

By Shijina C V

E M Sankaran Namboothirippad
April 5, 1957 - July 31, 1959
March 6, 1967- Nov 1, 1969

Pattom Thanu Pillai
Feb 22, 1960- sept 26, 1962

R Shankar
sept 26, 1962 - sept 10, 1964

C. Achutha Menon
Nov 1, 1969- Aug 1, 1970
Oct 4, 1970- Mar 25, 1977

P K Vasudevan Nair
Oct 29, 1978- Oct 7, 1979

C H Muhammed Koya
Oct 12, 1979- Dec 1, 1979

K Karunakaran
Mar 25, 1977 - April 25, 1977
Dec 28, 1981- March 17, 1982
May 24, 1982- March 25, 1987
June 24, 1991- March 16, 1995

E K Nayanar
Jan 25, 1980- Oct 20, 1981
March 26, 1987- June 17, 1991
May 20, 1996- May 13, 2001

A K Antony
April 27, 1977- Oct 27, 1978
March 22, 1995- March 9, 1996
May 17, 2001- Aug 29, 2004

V S Achuthanandan
May 18, 2006- May 15, 2011

Oommen Chandy
Aug 31, 2004- May 12, 2006
May18, 2011- ...

K.M. Mani and Ooman Chandi : the record for representing the constituencies for more than 40 years

By Divya

K.M. Mani and Oomen Chandi have become the synonym for Pala and Puthuppalli respectively. They have been representing the corresponding constituencies for more than 40 years.

K.M. Mani has been continuously representing the Pala legislative constituency since its inception.  This politician has a track record of never lost an election to the Legislative Assembly. He has been continuously elected from Pala Legislative constituency for 46 years.  He has overcome K.R. Gowri Amma for being M.L.A. for the highest number of time. He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1965.

Oomen Chandi, the chief minister of Kerala, has celebrated his 40^th year anniversary in legislative assembly in 2010. His entry to the assembly was in 1970 from Puthupally after defeating  M.George . The victory was repeated again in 1977, 80, 82. 87, 91, 96, 2001, 2006 qnd in 2011.

 

RAMESH CHENNITHALA :Profile

By Krishnapriya J.

Ramesh Chennithala (born 25 May 1956, in Chennithala, Mavelikkara). He is the son of late Ramakrishnan Nair. He was elected a Member of Parliament four times and was also a Kerala State Cabinet Minister at the age of 27 under mentor ship of late K. Karunakaran. He is a Working Committee member of Congress Party and is the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).^[2]

Positions Held

1980-82 President, Kerala Students Union

1982-84 President, National Students Union of India

1982-89 Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly

1982-83 Member, Library Committee, Kerala Legislative Assembly

1985-86 General Secretary, Indian Youth Congress (I)

1986-87 Cabinet Minister, Rural Development, Kerala

1986-90 President, Pradesh Youth Congress (I), Kerala

1987-89 Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly

1989 Member, Committee on Petitions, Kerala Legislative Assembly,

Elected to 9th Lok Sabha

1990-91 Member, Committee on Official Language

Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Human Resource Development

1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (2nd term)

1991-95 President, I.Y.C. (I)

1991-96 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Commerce

1992-94 Executive Member, Congress (I) Parliamentary Party

1993-96 Member, Standing Committee on Commerce

Member, Standing Committee on Labour

1994-96 Member, Committee on Public Undertakings

1994 Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee

1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (3rd term)

1997 Secretary, A.I.C.C

1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (4th term)

1999-2000 Member, Committee on Human Resource Development

2005- President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee 

2011- elected to the 13th legislative assembly

FACTS

By Fathima Shan

Newly formed Constituencies in Kerala

1. Thiruvanathapuram: Vattioorkkaavu, Thiruvanathapuram, Aruvikkara, Chirayankeezhu, Kattakkada.
2. Eranakulam: Kochi, Vypin, Thrikkakkara, Kalamasheri.
3. Thrishur: Puthukkadu, Kaippamangalam
4. Palakkadu: Shornur, Kongadu, tharoor, Nenmaara
5. Malappuram: Vallikkunnu, Vengara, Eranadu, Thavanoor, Kottakkal.
6. Kozhikkodu: Elathur, Kuttyadi
7. Kanoor: Kalyasheri, Mattannor, Dharmadam

The new constituencies which have come into existence after delimitation

1. Thiruvanathapuram: Thiruvanathapuram North, Thiruvanathapuram West, Thiruvanathapuram East, Kilimannor, Aryanadu.
2. Kollam: Neduvathur
3. Pathanamthitta: Kallooppara, Panthalam
4. Kottayam: Vazhoor
5. Alappuzha: Maararikkulam
6. Eranakulam: Palluruthi, Vadakkekkara, Njarakkal, Mattanjeri
7. Thrishur:Cherppu, Mala, Kodakkara,
8. Palakkadu: Kollamkodu, Kuzhalmantham, Srikrishnapuram
9. Kozhikkodu: Meppayoor
10. Kannoor: Edakkadu, Peringalam
    
    

DEMOCRAZY

By Krishnapriya J.

This time election was just like an India V/s Pakistan cricket match. People were on and in it. The counting of votes was a breath holding task with majority swinging from one end to the other frequently till the last minute. Both LDF and UDF strived their way to conquer the State and at last in a close finish to the hard fought electoral battle, the UDF edged past the LDF with a 2 seat majority to win the match….

History would have been reversed if LDF found their way back to the victory stand as the state has never allowed a ruling party to power for a second term. It was in 1982 and 1987 a similar swinging result unhook an airtight balloon of political play. In 1982, UDF got 73 and LDF got 63 seats respectively. It was a marginal of 93,521 votes, paved the victory of UDF.  Again in 1987 LDF caught hold of 78 seats while UDF managed to get 61.

There are some unique constituencies in kerala which has been ever faithful to either single party. Malappuram, kondotty and Thanoor constituencies remained the forts of Muslim League through the history. Thrikkarippur and Malampuzha constituencies remained with CPM. Things were not different from the history in these places in the 2011 election.

Right from 1964 onwards as V S Achuthanandan’s Malampuzha constituency formed, only CPM candidates won to the assembly. When E K Nayanar  became the Chief Minister in 1980 Malampuzha was  his constituency.

Thanoor remained faithful to Muslim Leauge in 16 elections including 2 by-elections and  gained majority of ten thousands every time. While taking charge as Chief Minister in 1979, C H Mohammed Koya was the representative of Malappuram. Later his son M.K Munir represented Malappuram constituency both in 1996 and 2001.

Another interesting story is regarding the Pala constituency. Pala holds the history of being fort of a single person. Right from the formation in 1964 none other than K M Mani won elections in this constituency. 

BORDERLESS VICTORY...

BY VISAK M.

AIDMK Candidates are not pesky about Kerala Assembly election results 2011.Their joy comes from transcending boundaries. Who knows C.Sampath or Mallika ,the trump cards of AIDMK in Kerala? They have not tasted the fruit of victory ,but they are savouring  the victory of their ‘amma’ ,the AIDMNK supremo Jayalalitha. In the 13^th Kerala Assembly elections four candidates from Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalitha’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) were on the fray. Every year on an average at least five candidates would contest the elections. They are contesting for their ‘amma’. This year party’s state committee member C.Sampath contested from Palakkad constituency .He grabbed 337 votes. Mallika one of the sate committee member contested from Idukki constituency and acquired 667 votes. Another candidate Sugunan who contested  from Nenmara constituency , got the highest vote  for AIDMK ie ,1267 votes. T.Sundararaman ‘participated’ from Kalamasherry. They are not worried about their defeat in the elections, but happy for Thalaivi’s stunning victory over DMK. Idukki and Palakkad hold unique Tamil influence not only in geography but also in culture and style. But it’s annoying to note  that such contesting attempts are not witnessed in the southern constituencies of kerala which are heavily Tamil prone areas.

AND THE TOP SCORERS ARE…..

- POOJA JAYAN

Heading to a photo finish Congress-led UDF in Kerala gained a narrow majority over the CPM-controlled LDF winning 72 seats in the 140-member assembly. In the neck to neck contest LDF bagged 68 seats. Now, lets have a look at the top scorers ( by margin) of the Kerala Assembly elections, 2011.

P.Ubaibulla -IUML

P.Ubaibulla made a thumping victory over Madathil Sadikkali of the Janata Dal (S) in Malappuram constituency , with a margin of 44508 votes and thus becomes  the top scorer in 2011 Assembly elections. He is IUML Malappuram constituency area president and a member of IUML state committee.

P K Kunhalikutty- IUML

  P K Kunhalikutty from Vengara Constituency under Malappuram District is the second top scorer, with a margin of margin of  38237 votes  against his nearest rival candidate K.P. Ismayil of INL. He is the State General Secretary of IUML. P K Kunhalikutty, allegedly embroiled in the ice cream parlour case won with an impressive margin, even though the LDF suddenly raised the issue before the elections.

  

Abdussamad Samadani-IUML

Abdussamad Samadani from Kottaikal constituency under the Malappuram District won by a margin of 35902 votes against his nearest rival candidate C.P.K. Gurukkal of NCP  and thus becomes  the third top scorer. Samadani is currently the national secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

Oommen Chandy -INC

Oommen Chandy , the current Chief Minister of kerala won from Puthuppally

under the Kottayam District . He stays at number four position with  a margin of 33255 votes against his nearest rival candidate Suja Susan George of  CPI (M) .  He was elected to Kerala legislative Assembly for the first time from Puthupally constituency in 1970, and since then he never had to look back.  The impeccable track record of winning 9 times continuously from the constituency is an eloquent testimony of his popularity and public acceptance.

Hibi Eden- INC

Hibi Eden , a candidate from Ernakulam constituency bagged the 5th  position  with a margin of 32437 votes against his nearest rival candidate Sebastian Paul, (independent LDF candidate). He is currently the National President of the National Students Union of India He is the Son of Ex MP George Eden.

V S Achuthanandan

by ANNU MATHEW

Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, is an Indian politician who has been the twentieth Chief Minister of Kerala state since May 2006. He has also been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) since 1985.

Born on 20 October 1923 to Sankaran and Accamma in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, Achuthanandan had to face poverty from a very early age. He lost his mother when he was four years old and subsequently lost his father at age 11. This forced him to quit his studies after finishing 7th standard in school. He started working by helping his elder brother in a village tailoring shop. Later he took up the job of meshing coir to make ropes at a coir factory.

He entered politics through trade union activities and joined State Congress in 1938. In 1940, he became a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI). During his 40 years as a politician he was imprisoned for five years and six months and was in hiding for four and half years. He was a state secretariat member of the CPI in 1957. During the Sino-Indian war in 1962, he was with the nationalists in the party, supporting Indian side. He was demoted in the party rank when he participated in a blood donation camp to help Indian soldiers. He is the only living Keralite among the 32 members who left the CPI National Council in 1964 to form the CPI(M). He is the senior most leader of CPI(M) in Kerala.

On May 26, 2007, the CPI(M) suspended Achuthanandan, along with Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of CPI(M), from the Politburo for their public remarks on each other. The central committee has approved the Politburo's decision to suspend them. Later the central committee revoked the suspension of VS.

Achuthanandan has served many positions in his long political career. He was the Kerala State Secretary of the CPI(M) between 1980 and 1992 and he became a member of the Politburo in 1985. He has also been active in parliamentary politics; he was elected as a member of Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1970, 1991, 2001 and 2006. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. He was the editor of CPI(M) mouth piece in Malayalam, Deshabhimani Daily.

During the assembly elections held in Kerala in April-May 2006, VS Achuthanandan defeated Satheesan Pacheeni of the United Democratic Front by a margin of 20,017 votes in Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district.

As a Chief Minister he has succeeded in reviving several public sector units[citation needed], measures to tackle price rises, reaching an agreement on the Smart City project in Kochi. Initiated action against encroachment on government land in the hill resort and tea plantation town of Munnar. On 30 December 2007, he became the first Communist CM to trail to the 800-year-old hill temple of Sabarimala. The 84-year-old Achuthanandan rejected any sort of physical or medical support as he worried doctors trying to catch up with him while trudging non-stop three hours on foot.V S Achuthandan supports free and open source software movement in the state and Richard Stallman has also supported his activities regarding this.

T. M. Jacob

By Annu Mathew

 T.M. Jacob, the leader of Kerala Congress (Jacob), a splinter faction of Kerala Congress. He is a former MLA of Kerala Legislative Assembly from Piravom constituency in Ernakulam district. Jacob is a former Education Minister in the Government of Kerala. He was also the Irrigation and Water Supply Minister in the UDF Government, which was elected into power in 2001 and was headed by A. K. Antony. He is a Christian belonging Syriac Orthodox Church.

 Now it is for the eighth time that he is being elected to the Assembly from Piravom. It is his fourth tenure as a minister.

His entry into active politics was through Kerala Students Congress (KSC). It is after a long time span of seven years that he is now back into power. In the 2006 assembly elections he was defeated by M.J. Jacob in Piravom.  Interestingly in the recent 2011 elections, he has been elected to the assembly by defeating the self-same M.J. Jacob. As the education minister, he passed the Pre-Degree Board Bill and as the Irrigation and Water Supply Minister the policy he followed was noted.

Shibu Baby John: Profile

By Fathima Shan K.A.

 The only Engineer in the present Kerala cabinet, Shibu Baby John is the current Labour Minister. He is also the General Secretary of Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John) party based in Kerala, India. He is the son of RSP leader Late Baby John. His party is part of Congress-led United Democratic Front.

In 2001 assembly elections he contested in Chavara constituency with RSP ticket and won. Chavara constituency is known for supporting Baby John for decades.He came out of RSP and launched Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John) in 2005. In 2006 assembly election Shibu lost to N.K.Premachandran of RSP.

In 2011 assembly election he defeated then state minister N.K.Premachandran with a lead of 6061 votes from the same Chavara constituency.

K. B. Ganesh Kumar- A Profile

By Suma K.

Ganesh Kumar was twice elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Pathanapuram constituency in Kollam district. A man of great versatility and impeccable taste, Ganesh Kumar acted in a variety of Malayalam films and television serials.

Ganesh Kumar is the son of R Balakrishna Pillai, the chairman of Kerala Congress (B). Ganesh Kumar initially focused on his film career and eschewed politics, but when the situation demanded his active involvement, he was quick to rise to the occasion.

In 2001, Ganesh Kumar was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Pathanapuram constituency in Kollam District on the Kerala Congress (B) ticket. This was the first time in the history of Kerala that an individual from the film industry had been elected to the Assembly.

Ganesh Kumar soon donned the ministerial mantle, when a court battle stood in the way of his father’s inclusion in the UDF (Congress-led United Democratic Front) cabinet.  The father-son duo had in fact made history, by becoming the first such pair to enter the Kerala Assembly simultaneously.

Ganesh Kumar became Transport Minister in the A K Antony cabinet and went on to give a good account of himself. Though only 34 years old and a political novice, he turned around the ailing KSRTC in record time and earned a reputation for providing a clean and efficient administration. 

In March 2003, when Balakrishna Pillai was exonerated by the Supreme Court, Ganesh Kumar gracefully stepped down from his ministerial post to facilitate his father’s induction into the Cabinet. The smooth transition took many by surprise.

In the 2006 Assembly elections, Ganesh Kumar was once again elected from Pathanapuram. The development works he had executed during his first term as MLA stood him in good stead at a time when the tide was not in favour of the UDF.

K M Mani –A profile

By Pooja Jayan

K. M MANI 

 

If there's one man that Kerala politicians - existing and aspiring - would like to emulate, it would be   none other than the  veteran  politician  K.M. Mani, who has been contesting assembly polls since 1965. K M Mani, a stalwart in Kerala politics who holds the record of having presented a maximum number of eight budgets as state finance minister, has once again adorned the garb of a minister in the United Democratic Front ministry. Karingozhakkal Mani (K. M. Mani) is the leader of Kerala Congress (M), one of the factions of the Kerala Congress. He holds the distinction of being the longest serving minister in the Government of Kerala. Palai ,has seen just Mani as its legislator because right from the time the constituency came into being in 1965, it has been his pocketborough and thus  holds the record of getting elected from the same Constituency the maximum number of times.

He was one of the founding members of the Kerala Congress. He was minister for Home Affairs (April 1977 to September 1978 and again October 1978 to July 1979), Finance and Law (January 1980 to October 1981, December 1981 to March 1982, May 1982 to March 1986) Irrigation and law (1987) Revenue and law (June 1991 to March 1996 and from 2001 to 2006) Mr Mani also presented working class theory as an alternative to the communist manifesto. As an alternative to European Economic Community, he had suggested Asian Economic Community by incorporating China. Smt. Annamma Mani is his wife and they have one son and five daughters .Mr Mani's son Jose K Mani is a member of the Lok Sabha from Kottayam.

Mani's biggest margin of victory was in the 1996 polls which he won by 23,790 votes and his least was in 1970 when he won by a mere 364 votes. 

Being a  gifted writer, he has authored many books also, “Fiscal Problems of Kerala-Causes and Remedial Measures”, “The People’s Socialism'', "The Eighth Five year Plan-an Alternative Approach", "Doctrine of Toiling Class", "The Economic Development of Kerala", "Toiling Class Theory'' and "Political and Economic Studies" to name just a few.

OOMMEN CHANDY: 21ST CM OF KERALA

Thiruvananthapuram: Oommen Chandy has been sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala. In the ceremony held at Rajbhavan on Wednesday, Governor R. S. Gavai administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy to the new CM.

Oath of office

In the 20 member ministry, Indian National Congress will have 10 ministers including the CM, The Muslim League will have 4 ministers and Kerala Congress (M) will have 2. The other allies, Socialist Janatha (D), RSP (B), Kerala Congress ( Jacob) and Kerala Congress (B) will have one member each in the ministry.

Along with Oommen Chandy, leaders of coalition partners in the UDF also took their oath today. Muslim League State General Secretary P.K. Kunjalikkutty, KC (M) Chairman, K.M. Mani, Socialist Janatha Party leader K.P. Mohanan, Kerala Congress (Jacob) chairman T. M. Jacob, RSP (B) Secretary Shibu Baby John and Kerala Congress (B) working chairman K.B. Ganesh Kumar are the new ministers sworn in.

The portfolio of Finance and Law has been allotted to K.M. Mani whereas his party colleague P.J Joseph will get Water Resources portfolio. The Agricultural and Animal Husbandry portfolio have been given to K.P. Mohanan. Meanwhile T.M. Jacob has been given the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio. K.B. Ganesh Kumar has been assigned the portfolios of Tourism, Sports and Youth Welfare. Shibu Baby John is in charge of the portfolio of Labour and Employment. P.K. Kunjalikkutty has not received charge of any department yet.
Interestingly, the new UDF ministry has no female member. This is in sharp contrast to erstwhile LDF ministries where women always get represented.

After more discussions within the UDF, the remaining ministers will be decided and their swearing-in ceremony will be on the 23rd of this month.