Now, Kerala Congress expects an ‘honourable accommodation’ with Cabinet rank for party chairperson P.J. Joseph

In the wake of the Keralam Cabinet springing a surprise on many in the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership by clearing the appointments of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M.K. Muneer as chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission and All India Forward Bloc leader G. Devarajan as the State’s special representative in Delhi, both with Cabinet rank, the Kerala Congress has upped the ante, demanding that a similar position be granted to its chairperson P.J. Joseph without delay. 

Minister for Water Resources and executive chairman of the party Mons Joseph said the question of providing an “honourable accommodation” to Mr. Joseph in view of his seniority in the UDF was well-settled. “We had raised it much earlier and were assured that the Congress would hold bilateral discussions with the KC to settle it. We have not demanded a specific position, and it is up to the government to finalise a suitable post for him. It would be better to have some clarity on this at the earliest,” he told The Hindu over phone. 

Mr. Mons Joseph said it was previously decided that all discussions on allocating political posts to UDF partners would be held through bilateral discussions with the Congress. The KC was not discontented about the sixth Cabinet berth allocated to the IUML, but it wanted more frequent meetings of the UDF. “It is better to arrive at decisions through a consultative process. The UDF should meet regularly, which will help strengthen coalition unity,” he said. 

Senior citizens’ panel

Reports suggest that the KC was hoping that Mr. Joseph would be accommodated as chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission. Now that the post has been given to Mr. Muneer, it hopes to get the post of chairperson of the State Commission for Senior Citizens.  

The KC, with seven legislators, currently has Mr. Mons Joseph in the State cabinet while Apu John Joseph, MLA and Mr. P.J. Joseph’s son, is the government Chief Whip, a post with Cabinet rank.