THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will the UDF Government have a 21st minister? A decision is likely to be taken in the crucial UDF meeting to be held on Wednesday.The Congress-led front has decided to take a final decision on the 21st minister and the chief whip and Deputy Speaker post before the Assembly session which will resume on June 24.Although the IUML is sticking to its demand for the fifth minister post, the Congress is taking a firm stand on giving the chief whip post with Cabinet rank to the IUML instead of yet another cabinet berth.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy himself had met IUML supremo Panakkad Hyderali Thangal as part of evolving a consensus between the Congress and the IUML on the issue. It is learnt that the IUML will finally concede to the demand of the Congress and accept the chief whip post.If the IUML accepts the chief whip post then Manhalamkuzhi Ali is likely to be appointed to the post. Then the Deputy Speaker post will be taken up by Kerala Congress faction led by K M Mani and Prof Jayaraj is likely to be the party candidate.The 21st Minister in the cabinet had become a contentious issue as both IUML and KC(M) had staked claim for it, particularly with KC(M) leader P C George claiming that he was not ready to accept the Deputy Speaker post. George's desire to get a Cabinet berth was upset as the Congress gave only two Cabinet berths to the KC(M). George was then tipped for the deputy Speaker post and Manjalamkuzhi Ali the preferred choice of IUML for the fifth minister's post. However George was not willing to accept this formula.Hectic parleys were then held to evolve a consensus between the IUML and KC(M) following which both the parties agreed on a consensus.The accord was that IUML will stake claim to the minister's post and KC(M) will settle for the Deputy Speaker post. However, the Congress was not willing to accept this formula and the Chief Minister made it clear that IUML could be given only the chief whip post.A final decision on the ministership and Deputy Speaker issue will be taken at the UDF meeting on Wednesday as the Assembly session is beginning on Friday.Apart from this, the self-financing professional college admission issue is likely to be yet another major topic of discussion in the meeting.The decision taken by Inter-Church Council to go on its own in the admission process had irked the Congress and other constituents. Already, there are allegations that the Council is getting support from some of the UDF constituents. These allegations have upset the Chief Minister who himself has now taken the initiative to resolve the deadlock.
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