Portfolio disputes emerge in V D Satheesan-led UDF cabinet

Differences within the Congress-led UDF over the allocation of Fisheries and Higher Education departments have delayed the announcement of ministerial portfolios in the new V D Satheesan-led Kerala cabinet. Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the issues would be resolved soon

Thiruvananthapuram: Differences have emerged within the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front over the allocation of certain departments to alliance partners, delaying the announcement of ministerial portfolios in the newly sworn-in V D Satheesan-led cabinet, a senior party leader said on Tuesday.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said there were differences within the UDF over who should be given the Fisheries and Higher Education portfolios, but assured that the issues would be resolved soon.

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“The notification of the portfolios of the ministers will be announced by evening. The delay is due to the possibility of changes in the portfolios of some ministers. There are arguments over the Higher Education and Fisheries departments.

“They will be resolved soon and the notification will be issued in the evening,” he told reporters here.

In order to resolve the concerns of the alliance partners, some “rearrangements” will have to be made within the party, he added.

Due to differences over who should be the chief minister, the CM-designate was announced more than 10 days after the declaration of the Assembly poll results.