Kerala Congress (J) seeks government role for chairman P.J. Joseph

Kerala Congress (J) expects its chairman, P.J. Joseph, to receive a position in the state government, the party’s leader Mons Joseph has said. Mons Joseph, who is also the Water Resources Minister, spoke to reporters in Kottayam on Friday after the Cabinet-rank appointments of IUML leader M.K.

Muneer and Forward Bloc leader G. Devarajan. Muneer was appointed chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, while Devarajan became Kerala’s special representative in New Delhi.

Mons Joseph said discussions on other appointments had not yet begun with coalition partners. He said he would raise the matter with the chief minister, adding that appointments involving Congress leaders had also not been finalised. His party, he said, expected P.J.

Joseph to receive due recognition as a leader of the Kerala Congress and the United Democratic Front. Mons Joseph said Kerala Congress (J) was not in a hurry to secure positions and that there was sufficient time for discussions. He referred to the chief minister’s assurance that coalition partners would be consulted.

His comments followed criticism from UDF convener Adoor Prakash, who said important decisions were being taken without adequate consultation and that UDF meetings were not being held regularly. Mons Joseph said collective discussion was necessary but indicated that his party did not want to turn the matter into a dispute. He said the party took the chief minister at his word that discussions would take place.

He added that all constituents of the coalition should receive appropriate representation and recognition. No further appointments were announced in the material provided.