Ramesh Chennithala taking oath as minister
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala today joined the United Democratic Front ministry in Kerala headed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
"Every Congressperson has to stand together and work together now for the crucial upcoming Lok Sabha elections," the 57-year-old leader said as he was sworn in as a minister in Mr Chandy's cabinet this morning.
The decision was made as per the party high command's directives in Delhi and with the reported intervention of Defence Minister AK Antony.
Though a portfolio has not been assigned to Mr Chennithala, who has been chief of Kerala state Congress for the last 9 years, sources have revealed that he will be replacing Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan, a Chandy loyalist, as the state's Home Minister.
The UDF has been engulfed with reports of infighting within senior Congress leaders in Kerala.
"On several occasions, I have been asked to join the government. Twenty-seven years back, I was a minister in Karunakaran government. After all these years it's only now I have agreed to become a minister. I am a party worker. I will do whatever the High Command orders," Ramesh Chennithala said.