Thiruvananthapuram: With hardly a year left
for completion of its term, the CPI-M led LDF government in
Kerala was expanded Tuesday with the induction of a nominee of
Kerala Congress (Thomas) V Surendran Pillai.
Governor R S Gavai administred the oath of office and
secrecy to Pillai at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.
Pillai is likely to get the porfolio of Youth Affairs and
Ports, now held by the CPI-M nominee in the ministry M
Vijayakumar, who also hold Sports and Parliamentary Affairs.
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, his cabinet colleagues
and Kerala Congress (Thomas) chief P C Thomas attended the
ceremony.
The LDF had decided to induct the Kerala Congress (Thomas)
faction nominee into the cabinet last week after admitting the
outfit as a partner of the Left led front earlier this month.
Pillai, who represents Thiruvananthapuram West segment in
the Assembly, was the lone Kerala Congress MLA who declined
to go with former minister P J Joseph, who dissolved the party
led by him and joined the Kerala Congress (Mani) to become
part of the Congress-led UDF a few months back.
Joseph had held Public Works portfolio in the ministry.
After his quitting the front and the cabinet, Finance Minister
T M Thomas Isaac (CPI-M) had been holding the additional
charge of Public Works.
PTI
