The Congress leadership is actively considering a formula to resolve the political logjam by bringing in the Speaker, Mr G. Karthikeyan, as a member of the UDF Cabinet and offering Speaker’s post to Muslim League, which has been insisting on the fifth minister.
If this formula does not work out, which depends on Mr Karthikeyan’s preferences, the UDF would be forced to delink the timing of the Kerala Congress (Jacob) nominee, Mr Anoop Jacob’s swearing-in and the League demand.
According to UDF sources, Mr Jacob’s swearing-in could take place next week. The Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj is in Bangalore, after a week of busy schedules.
The buzz was that the chief minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, and the state Congress president, Mr Ramesh Chennithala, had mooted a formula or set of formulas before the Congress high command.
The primary formula responds to the League concern. Instead of the fifth Cabinet berth, it could bring in the flamboyant Mr Manjalamkuzhy Ali as Speaker or make him a minister after asking one of its ministers to step down and take over as the Speaker.
This formula, intensely speculated by the media, gained currency following Mr Chandy’s visit to the official residence of Mr Karthikeyan on Monday evening.
Sources close to Mr Karthikeyan said he had told Mr Chandy that he preferred to remain an ordinary MLA than become a minister.