THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The till-now elusive fifth minister of IUML, who could have been chosen many months ago, has now put the Congress in a bind. There are at least three different sets of formulae being worked out to solve the issue but none of them seems satisfactory for the Congress rank and file.If the demand was for one more berth for the IUML in the ministry, now the compromise formula being worked out in consultation with Congress High Command has necessitated at least two ministerial posts, if not more, and also asking the incumbent Speaker to step down.Speaking to Express, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala did not deny the existence of the formulae for reaching a consensus with IUML, including the one about him joining the UDF government as a minister. “We are awaiting the course of action from the IUML. As far as Congress is concerned, we have discussed the issue of the fifth minister with the party High Command. It is now for the IUML to take a call. Any decision regarding any of the formulae will be taken only after IUML makes its stand clear. A final decision will be taken only after Tuesday,” he said. One formula is asking Speaker G Karthikeyan to resign from the Speaker’s post and accommodating him as a minister in the UDF Government. The Speaker’s post will be given to IUML. This solution has not gone well with many of the Congress leaders and already defiant voices are emanating from the Congress camp.“This is not a formula that was suggested by the Congress High Command. It is a Kerala formula that was presented before it. It is unfortunate that these solutions were not discussed in the KPCC meet on April 3 nor in the political affairs committee that met on the same day,’’ Congress leader K Muraleedharan told Express. “The dispute over the fifth minister for IUML could have been settled amicably with it and there was no need of drawing the post of Speaker to the row. It is learnt that a discussion regarding it took place on April 2 prior to the KPCC meet. Everyone was kept in the dark regarding it and the situation currently does not require any revamp of the UDF ministry, particularly when it is just 11 months old,” Murali added. Senior Congress leaders, including Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, said that he was unaware of any of the formulae doing the rounds in the state. “The CM and KPCC president had met Congress High Command and the decision they took in the meeting will be conveyed to IUML,” he said. G Karthikeyan, who had made it clear that he is not keen to join the ministry but would work as an MLA if he quits the Speaker’s post, said that he is still the Speaker and that he would not like to comment on the issue. IUML leader and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said he had a discussion with the Chief Minister on the issue and it was decided to find an amicable settlement without any problems to both the parties.
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