There is a clear method behind the new offensive launched by Chandy. Equally significant is its timing and the tenor of his latest statement, which has raised many an eyebrow in Congress circles. The Chief Minister made his demand while addressing the leadership meet of the Kottayam District Congress Committee.

No less important is the fact that the CM’s bombshell has come at a time when the KPCC president V M Sudheeran is away in US on a private visit.

Why has Chandy sprung a surprise – an unpleasant one at that for the KPCC chief and his supporters – at this juncture? It is not difficult to divine the reasons for the Chief Minister’s outburst. Oommen Chandy’s comment is being attributed to his displeasure over the KPCC president’s strong opposition to his move for a Cabinet reshuffle.

It must be mentioned in this context that Sudheeran has said, time and again, that there is no need for a cabinet reshuffle at this point of time. The KPCC chief is said to be of the view that a cabinet rejig now would only create more problems.

Of course, Sudheeran is not alone in opposing a cabinet reshuffle. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is also against any move for a cabinet shake-up. Ramesh’s objection stems from his apprehension that a cabinet rejig to accommodate Speaker G. Karthikeyan, who has voiced his decision to quit the Speaker’s post and return to active politics, would result in one of the I group ministers losing his post.

Chandy is unhappy with Sudheeran because the latter was the first to come out openly against it. The message from the CM’s move is quite clear: Cabinet reshuffle is my prerogative. You have no business to interfere in it. Now that you have chosen to ignore this convention, I am returning the compliments by interfering in the affairs of the KPCC and demanding its reshuffle, too!

That the CM and the KPCC chief are sharply divided on many issues is an open secret. They are at odds over the Aranmula airport issue. While Chandy favours the construction of an airport at Aranmula, Sudheeran is against it. They also disagree on the issue of renewal of 418 closed bars. The Chief Minister is in favour of renewal, but the KPCC chief has set his face firmly against it. Obviously, Chandy is upset at the KPCC chief’s opposition to his plans. Hence his demand for a KPCC rejig.

The CM’s frustration is also because, thanks to the opposition from Sudheeran and Chennithala, his deft move for a cabinet rejig has come a cropper. The CM’s strategy was evidently to fell two mangoes with a single stone: cut the ‘I’ group led by Chennithala to size and strengthen the position of his own faction, the A group. But with even the allies like the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kerala Congress (M) vehemently opposing the CM’s plan, Chandy has no option but to shelve the Cabinet reshuffle idea.

The Congress politics is bound to hot up further with the KPCC chief’s return to Kerala by the month end. Much will depend on the response of Sudheeran to Chandy’s demand. If he decides to react strongly, then the party politics will take a new dimension with unpredictable and unpleasant consequences for the party in Kerala, which already has its plate of problems full.(IPA Service)