The reshuffle in Kerala state Cabinet will see MLAs Ramachandran Kadannappally and KB Ganesh Kumar take oath as ministers, replacing Ports Minister Ahammed Devarkovil and Transport Minister Antony Raju.
The rejig follows a pact arrived during the cabinet formation in 2021 under which Devarkovil and Raju were to serve the first half term of the ministry and Kadannappally and Ganesh the second half.
The LDF government made a formal announcement in this regard on Sunday. "Two ministers from the Cabinet submitted their resignation today as per the agreement reached in 2021. It has been decided to induct the two MLAs into the Cabinet," LDF convenor E P Jayarajan told reporters. He added that the new ministers will take oath on December 29 and invites will be sent out soon.
As for the portfolios, the Chief Minister will make a decision about the same.
The Kerala Congress (B), which Ganesh Kumar belongs to, had written to the Chief Minister demanding rejig of the Cabinet. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had insisted on reorganisation after the recently-concluded 'Nava Kerala Sadas' .
With regard to his resignation, Devarkovil said that he was fully satisfied with his tenure as minister. “It is for the people to judge my performance,” he added.
Raju too shared his gratitude to the people. "I was in charge of the Transport Department, including the crisis-hit Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. However, I am glad that I could leave after paying the full salary of the employees," he told reporters.
Raju added that he was willing to quit before the start of Nava Kerala Sadas when his tenure ended but the Chief Minister and the LDF leadership urged him to continue until the event concluded. "I am happy to have presided over the valedictory function of the Sadas which was a historic occasion," he added.
With the reshuffle of the cabinet, all constituent parties with one MLA, with the exception of RJD, will be represented in the government.
