Over to selecting CM, forming Cabinet for UDF; VS factor to continue in LDF

Thiruvananthapuram: Now it would be the great exercise of naming the Chief Minister and forming the Cabinet members, in the backdrop of the slender victory margin secured by the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala.

From the situation that was prevailing in the state, it could be a miracle how the front got 72 seats out of 140, for the ruling regime of the CPM-led V.S.Achuthanandan was almost placed to return to power.

Reports of the UDF posited to undergo an agonising process of Chief Minister-making may not be true. For every constituent might have the feeling that it has to survive, for which it will have to toil hard and has to be very careful.

Even the tiny parties in the UDF will have to be given representation in the Cabinet. T.M.Jacob is lucky this time. He cannot be ignored. The victory of 157 votes is no small thing.

Congress Party will have to slice out Ministership to all and has to be content with whatever is left. Still they will have a Chief Minister.

Talks about some parties going over to the LDF may not hold good at present. For some time, it appears the UDF would move about positively. Indian Union Muslim League has set the tone in fine fettle, it would not demand the post of a Deputy Chief Minister. That is the spirit.

For the LDF, Achuthanandan was the trump card, and it would remain so in the near future.