Manjalamkuzhi Ali of the Indian Union Muslim League and Anoop Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob) were sworn in as ministers here on Thursday, taking the strength of the UDF Cabinet to 21.
Governor H.R. Bhardwaj administrated the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-inducted ministers at a simple ceremony held on the Raj Bhavan premises. Mr Ali, 60, who represents Perinthalmana constituency in the Assembly, is the fifth minister of the Muslim League in the UDF Cabinet. A beaming Mr Ali, who took the oath in Allah’s name, was in a spotless white mudu, shirt and sported a typical Malabari headgear.
Mr Jacob, who won the Piravom bypoll recently, took the oath in God’s name. As the 33-year-old leader of Kerala Congress (Mr Jacob) walked up to the podium, the party workers assembled in Raj Bhavan raised slogans in his support. Muslim League workers, who outnumbered the Kerala Congress Jacob supporters, were generous enough to shout slogans for Mr Jacob.
Mr Ali has been allotted the urban development portfolio, minority affairs, development authorities and town planning. Mr Jacob bagged the food and civil supplies, a portfolio held by his father late T.M. Jacob. Chief minister Oommen Chandy made crucial changes in the portfolios of some of the senior Congress ministers after the induction of two ministers on Thursday. This was seen by many as an effort to address the concerns of the majority community as both the new ministers belonged to the minority communities.
Mr Chandy gave up the crucial home portfolio and handed it to his close confidante and revenue minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. Health minister Adoor Prakash is the new revenue minister and transport minister V.S. Sivakumar gets the health portfolio. Power minister Aryadan Muhammed will hold the additional charge of the transport department. Mr Chandy and Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan were present at the swearing-in.
Barring Aryadan Mohammad, C.N. Balakrishnan and K.B. Ganesh, all other members of the Cabinet attended.