VS elected CPM legislature party leader

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Ahead of the swearing-in of the LDF ministry in Kerala on Thursday, veteran leader V S Achuthanandan was on Wednesday elected the CPI(M) legislature party leader.

Achuthanandan was unanimously elected leader at the meeting of party MLAs held here, party sources said.  The CPI(M) state committee on May 15 had unanimously chosen 82-year-old Achuthanandan to head the ministry.

According to sources, a 19-member cabinet is being planned in which the CPI(M) will have 12 nominees, including Chief Minister, the CPI four and Janata Dal(S), the RSP and Kerala Congress (Joseph faction) one each.

Single-legislator constituents in the Left Democratic Front like the NCP and Congress-S are unlikely to get berths in the ministry.

Achuthanandan will be meeting Governor R L Bhatia later in the day to formally stake claim for forming the government.

The Liason Committee of the LDF was also meeting here to give final shape to the ministry and portfolio allocation.

For the first time, the swearing in ceremony has been planned to be held outside the Raj Bhavan at the Central Stadium here to enable the public to witness the function.