File photo of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
Amid speculation that Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan is set to resign from the post ahead of a possible reshuffle of United Democratic Front ministry, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran today said there had been no formal
proposal made before the party in this regard.
"These issues have not come before the party. No one has talked to me on these matters directly or indirectly," Mr Sudheeran told reporters in Kottayam.
On the possibilities of a cabinet reshuffle, Mr Sudheeran said taking up such an exercise was the prerogative of the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He, however, added "no one in responsible positions has held any discussions with me".
Local media is rife with speculation that Mr Karthikeyan, a senior Congress leader, is keen to resign as Speaker of the Assembly and return to active politics.
The reports also said if that happens, Mr Karthikeyan will be accommodated in the cabinet with an important portfolio and there would be some changes of ministers, belonging to the lead partner Congress.
Mr Karthikeyan, however, has so far not made any open comment on media reports which even suggested that he had conveyed his choice to the party leadership.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction leader Johny Nellur said his party would resist any move to divest its lone cabinet nominee Anup Jacob of Food and Civil Supplies portfolio in the event of a cabinet rejig.
"This portfolio was allocated to our party by a collective decision of the United Democratic Front or UDF. We agree that allocation of portfolios is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. But our stand is that there should also be consultations and discussions among the partners of the UDF before taking such decisions," Mr Nellur told reporters.