Guruvayur (Kerala) | Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Friday said Ramesh Chennithala should be included in the Cabinet as a minister, adding that the party leadership is in touch with him.
Chennithala, who was in the race for the Kerala chief minister's post, left his residence soon after V D Satheesan was selected by the Congress high command on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after a darshan at Sree Krishna temple here, Muraleedharan said Satheesan was chosen after consultations with Congress MLAs, MPs and senior leaders, including former KPCC presidents.
"Apart from that, in the past election, we had the experience of people expressing interest in making Satheesan the chief minister. Even after the election, when I visited my constituency, people expressed support for Satheesan. So, considering all factors, including public sentiment, a final decision was taken," he said.
When asked whether he supported Satheesan in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting while selecting the chief minister, Muraleedharan said he had not denied similar questions earlier. "That means you were right," he said.
On Chennithala's inclusion in the Cabinet, Muraleedharan said the decision would be taken by the high command after discussions with him.
He said Chennithala has always accepted the party high command's decisions and is a disciplined Congressman.
"There is no doubt that he will work as per the direction of the high command," Muraleedharan said.
"I understand that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have spoken to him. The Cabinet needs a person like him," he added.
Responding to allegations by Opposition parties and caste outfits that Satheesan was selected under pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the elected MLA from Vatiyoorkavu said it was a narrative by the CPI(M), which could not accept its defeat in the recent Assembly election.
He said leaders who had "secretly" approached the Panakkad family associated with the IUML were now blaming the Congress.
He added that the BJP, which is raising similar allegations, is unlikely to grow in Kerala.
Muraleedharan said the Congress is a democratic party and, in case of any differences during the selection of ministers, the final call would be taken by the high command and accepted by all members.
He also said he had never demanded a ministerial berth from the party leadership.
On Pinarayi Vijayan becoming the Leader of the Opposition, Muraleedharan said it would be good for the UDF.
"When he was the chief minister, we won 102 seats. If he becomes the Leader of the Opposition, we will clean sweep the Assembly seats. But we always want a strong opposition," he said
