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Congress tensions in Kerala as Ramesh Chennithala pushes for Home portfolio and berths in new cabinet
Politics
Published on 16 May 2026
Home department demand and loyalist berths both rejected so far
Ahead of the UDF government swearing-in in Kerala on Monday, internal Congress tensions are surfacing around cabinet formation. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala is reportedly unhappy with how negotiations are progressing, pressing for the Home department under CM VD Satheesan and cabinet berths for two MLAs considered close to him. Sources say neither demand has been accepted yet, fueling speculation that Chennithala may opt out of the ministry. The party now must balance factional interests after Satheesan’s CM selection.
- UDF government oath is set for Monday under CM VD Satheesan
- Chennithala wants Kerala Home department for the new cabinet
- He also sought berths for MLAs Anwar Sadat and IC Balakrishnan
- Sources say both requests have not been accepted so far
- Rumours suggest he may stay out of the ministry if ignored
- UDF won 102 of 140 seats, ending Left rule after a decade
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This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
Republic