Cabinet expansion talks have suddenly picked up momentum in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) with the CPI(M) mulling reinduction of former Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, if possible, before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan leaves for the U.S. for treatment on August 19.
Mr. Jayarajan, who had to put in his papers within six months of the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet assuming office in 2016 over nepotism charges, has been waiting in the wings for almost year now after being cleared of the charges. The CPI(M) has been deferring a decision on the issue as it did not wish to breach the ceiling of 19 Ministers set by itself for the Cabinet. It arrived at the figure on moral grounds citing the way the size of the last United Democratic Front (UDF) Cabinet got bloated to 21 with the induction of the fifth Indian Union Muslim League Minister. The party had inducted veteran leader M.M. Mani in place of Mr. Jayarajan and given him the Power portfolio.
Yet another factor that has been proving a roadblock for the party is the possibility of the CPI staking claim to an additional berth in the Cabinet if the CPI(M) decides to reinduct Mr. Jayarajan. In fact, the CPI leadership had directly and indirectly told the CPI(M) leadership about its intentions. The Cabinet expansion, howsoever nominal it is, would have to factor in the stand likely to be taken by the CPI as and when the issue is broached with them.
The CPI(M) State secretariat has been convened on August 10. In the normal course, its meeting would have gone unnoticed. However, the party has now decided to hold a meeting of the CPI(M) State committee as well on August 10 afternoon. This is being seen as a definitive hint to the possibility of the CPI(M) taking a final call on reinducting Mr.. Jayarajan. The LDF State committee too has been convened for August 13. There could be bilateral discussions between the CPI(M) and CPI before any formal decision is taken and the matter is taken to the LDF State committee.
The CPI(M) now has 12 Ministers, the CPI four, and the Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress (S) one each. If the CPI(M) and the CPI decide to induct one Cabinet Minister each, the size of the Cabinet would reach 21, the same as that of the last United Democratic Front (UDF) government.