Nothing done haphazardly, every Ministry move has political meaning

No doubt, considerable thought has gone into the tinkering done with the Dr Manmohan Singh Ministry, appeasing elements in Kerala to utmost extent.

Whatever may be the Opposition BJP harping against it, the Congress Party has a lot to do with regaining the reins in Kerala in the ensuing Assembly elections. Nothing should be left to chance elements snatching away a sure-shot State as far as the party is concerned. Reality check would confirm to it that a lot of under-currents are capable of fouling up the opportunity.

Nair Service Society does not outwardly appear to be particularly happy about K.C.Venugopal having been given a ministerial berth, all the same it is some relief for them. More measures like reservation for the economically backward among the forward communities, fetters in the education sector being removed etc would go a long way in humoring them.

Vayalar Ravi has been dreaming of becoming the Chief Minister of Kerala during his entire political stints everywhere. When the forces here have made a sort of arrangement with Ramesh Chennithala as KPCC President and Oommen Chandy as the natural choice for UDF’s Chief Ministership, Vayalar Ravi steamrolling as a candidate over others would vitiate the atmosphere. The high command has amply acknowledged his stature by providing him with the coveted portfolio of Civil Aviation, retaining his equally important folio of Overseas Indian Affairs. He has become a strongman in the Cabinet.

K.V.Thomas has also been given more powers of making decisions by giving him an independent portfolio of feeding the people, food and civil supplies and consumer affairs. Food security is a strong plank of the UPA II Government. And if Thomas can ensure food security, with all its inherent pitfalls, it would do him further good.

E.Ahamed was doing well as MoS External Affairs dealing with Gulf Arab and connected people and issues. He seemed to have liked the slot and so he got back the same. He could be happy, as well as his party, the Indian Union Muslim League of Kerala.
The Prime Minister has observed that there would be another expansion after the budget session of Parliament. Perhaps, before the next Assembly elections for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, some more appeasement acts would be extended covering Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, DMK in Tamil Nadu etc.
Tamil Nadu will have early elections as the term of its Assembly on May 16. The Kerala Assembly term ends on May 23. The Assam and Puducherry Assemblies have their terms till May 28.

The elections will be held for 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 in Kerala, 294 in West Bengal, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry.

Now West Bengal and Kerala are ruled by the Left parties, and Assam and Puducherry by the Congress. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK is in power with Congress support.

So, nothing has been haphazardly done in the present streamlining, every gesture has a political meaning.