THIRUVANANTHPURAM: Reports suggest that Keralam’s Chief Minister-designate VD Satheeshan’s swearing-in ceremony on May 18 is set to have special guests. They include new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Keralam’s Chief Secretary sent the invitation to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Tamil Nadu chief at the behest of Chief Minister-designate Satheeshan.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar have also been invited. They are expected to participate in the programme. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren are also likely to be invited. They all belong to the I.N.D.I. Alliance.
On top of that, Priyanka Vadra and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to grace the programme, which will be held at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on May 18 at 10 am.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is all set to make it a mega event, as it is returning to power after a gap of 10 years.
Despite preparations for the colourful function, internal feuds continue to dominate the Congress party. Even though senior leader Ramesh Chennithala has reportedly agreed to join the government, he is insisting on the Home Ministry portfolio, while Satheeshan is reportedly unwilling to part with it.
According to reports, Congress is yet to finalise the party’s ministers.
Even though the people, dissatisfied with the 10-year-old CPM-led Left Democratic Front regime, gave an emphatic mandate to the UDF, the 10-day-long infighting over the selection of the Chief Minister has reportedly diminished the colour of the victory.
Congress is also expected to hold discussions with UDF partners regarding ministerial allocations.
