Out of the 10 Congress ministers, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, six belong to the A group led by Chandy and 4 to the Vishala I group of which KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala is the leader. Like in the matter of candidate-selection, in deciding ministerial berths as well, the A and I group have neatly divided the spoils between themselves.

In other words, no Congress leader outside of these two groups has made it to the ministry – a development which does not augur well for the stability of the Chandy Ministry which enjoys only a wafer-thin majority.

The most surprising omission has been of Congress MLA V D Satheeshan, who was adjudged the best performer in the last assembly. In fact, if the lottery scam put the Achuthanandan Government on the defensive, full credit goes to Satheeshan, who waged a relentless battle against the then LDF Government. But the fact that he belonged to neither of the two dominant groups in the party proved his undoing. Satheeshan also declined to accept the Speaker’s post. He is learnt to be extremely unhappy about the raw deal meted out to him.

Similarly, Karunakaran’s son, K. Muraleedharan also failed to secure a ministerial berth because he also stayed away from groupism. Murali was not included, say Congress sources, owing to the objection of the Nair Service Society (NSS), which shed its much-vaunted equidistant policy in this election to openly support the UDF. Karunakaran supporters, including his daughter Padmaja, have dubbed it as an insult to the memory of the late leader. Murali outside the government may prove more dangerous than Murali inside it, say observers.

Another ministerial aspirant, N Sakthan is also sulking on the sidelines. Sakthan, who belongs to the powerful Nadar community, had threatened to resign his MLA’s post, has been persuaded to hold his hand. But it remains to be seen whether the Nadars will take this insult lying down.

As if all this is not enough, the allies are making life hell for the Congress. The Kerala Congress (Mani) has demanded three ministers, it has been given only two. Likewise, the Indian Union Muslim League is keen on having five ministers though the Congress has conceded only four so far. If the two allies refuse to relent, the Congress will have no option but to bow to the pressure.

Congress was also keen on retaining the finance portfolio this time. But it had to give the portfolio to KC(M) leader Mani. Similarly, the Congress was under pressure to take the education portfolio from the IUML. But the latter was in no mood to oblige the weak ‘big brother’ for a change.

Obviously, the outlook is not at all good for the UDF Government. The LDF has already made it clear that if the new government drops the people-friendly measures it had taken, there would be a strong agitation. Tough times are ahead for the Chandy Government. (IPA)