KOZHIKODE: The cloud of dissonance over the fifth ministerial post between the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Congress is likely to clear away within a few days.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will call on IUML state president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal at his residence in Panakkad on June 17, in order to appeal to him to withdraw the party’s demand for the fifth ministerial berth in the Cabinet.Sources said, since the number of ministers cannot exceed 21 in the 140 member Legislative Assembly, the Congress wants to keep one ministerial post vacant so as to include more constituents in the future, if required. At present, 20 ministerial posts have already been filled. The main objective of the visit is to convince this matter to the Muslim League supremo and to persuade the party leader to accept the chief whip post instead of a ministerial berth, party sources maintained.The dissension among the UDF constituents began just hours before the expansion of the UDF ministry, when the IUML president had sprung a surprise by announcing five ministers though the party was allotted only four. IUML had announced Perinthalmanna MLA Manhalamkuzhi Ali as the ministerial candidate for the parliamentary affairs portfolio.However, as the Congress and other constituents in the Muslim League expressed their protest, the matter was kept pending. The IUML leadership decided to stick on to their demand as it was announced by the party supremo. Besides, the party is of the view that it deserves a fifth ministerial post as it is the second largest constituent in the front.As far as IUML leadership is concerned, the visit of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to Panakkad will help them becalm the agitated party members who believe that the party supremos had failed to negotiate with the Congress. In fact, this strong pressure from the party followers had forced the IUML leaders to announce and press for the fifth ministerial post.
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