Kerala: UDF races to finalise Cabinet in last-minute talks
The Kerala capital witnessed hectic political activity on Saturday as UDF leaders held a series of meetings to finalise ministerial berths and decide nominees for the new ministry headed by CM-designate VD Satheesan, which will assume office on May 18.
Senior leaders of the Congress and its alliance partners remained engaged in back-to-back discussions from the morning at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters and other venues in the capital city.
The talks focused on the allocation of portfolios, representation for alliance partners, and balancing regional and community interests in the new Cabinet.
Meetings among Congress leaders were held under the leadership of Satheesan, KPCC president Sunny Joseph, and Deepa Dasmunsi, who arrived in the state following directions from the All India Congress Committee to oversee the discussions.
By evening, the negotiations had reportedly entered a more sensitive phase as leaders worked to resolve differences over key portfolios and the final composition of the ministry. Sources said the Congress leadership was making urgent efforts to release the final list of ministers at the earliest after completing discussions with alliance partners. Separate meetings were also held by constituent parties of the UDF to decide their representatives in the ministry.
Parties consulted senior members and legislators before forwarding their final recommendations to the Congress leadership. Political observers described the atmosphere in the capital as intense, with senior leaders moving between meetings throughout the day amid mounting speculation over who would secure important Cabinet positions.
