Oommen Chandy adds two ministers

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Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday added two more ministers to his cabinet, taking the total strength to 21.

M. Ali, 60, of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Anup Jacob, 34, who became a legislator last month after stepping into the shoes of his father, Kerala Congress-Jacob's T.M. Jacob, were sworn in at the Raj Bhavan here.

The two first time ministers were administered the oath of office by Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, who is standing in as Kerala governor.

The expansion had been hotly debated here as this was the first time that the IUML, the second biggest ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front, gets five ministers.

Anup's mother, Daisy Jacob, a senior bank official, was seen trying to control tears that rolled down her cheeks as her son has also become a minister. Her husband had been the food and civil supplies minister.

Ali, 60, is a hugely successful film producer and businessman. He began his political career by winning as a Left supported legislator defeating a IUML candidate in 2001 and repeated his success in the 2006 polls. In 2010, he split with the Left and joined the IUML.