Mathrubhumi

Oommen Chandy sworn in as new Kerala Chief Minister 

Posted on: 18 May 2011

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy on Wednesday sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala at the Raj Bhavan here. Along with Chandy, six floor leaders of the UDF coalition were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor R S Gavai at the lawns of the Raj Bhavan. The UDF unseated CPI(M)-led LDF by securing a thin
majority of 72 seats in the 140-member House after April 13 Assembly polls. Those sworn in as ministers were P K Kunhalikutty (IUML), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (SJD), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B).

The ministry will be expanded on May 23 with the induction nine Congress nominees, three representatives of IUML and one more from Kerala Congress (Mani). Chandy's predecessor and CPI (M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony. A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in. Chandy is becoming Chief Minister for the second time after an interim term in 2004-06. The UDF had yesterday wrapped up an agreement with its partners on sharing the ministerial berths and portfolios. PTI

Chandy Govt takes charge, announces relief measures

Thiruvananthapuram, May 18

A seven-member UDF Ministry headed by senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy today assumed office in Kerala and went headlong into the business of governance, announcing several relief measures.

Chandy, who led the UDF to victory in one of the closest ever contests in over four decades, has become Chief Minister for the second time after a two-year term in 2004. The cabinet has decided to reduce petrol price by Rs 1.22 per litre by forgoing the tax that would accrue to the state from the recent hike in petrol price. It also decided to provide relief of Rs one lakh to the families of 486 persons who reportedly died due to use of endosulfan pesticide in Kasargode district. Along with Chandy, Governor R S Gavai administered the oath of office and secrecy to P K Kunhalikutty (IUML), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (SJD), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B). Chandy is the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala.The cabinet would be expanded on May 23 by induction of nine ministers from the Congress, three from IUML and two from the Kerala Congress (Mani). Chandy's predecessor and CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony. A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in