THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending all speculation and suspense but leaving many questions unanswered, the UDF on Wednesday yielded to the demand of the IUML for a fifth Cabinet Minister. Manjalamkuzhi Ali of the IUML and Anoop Jacob of KC (Jacob) will be sworn in as ministers at a function at the Raj Bhavan grounds here at 10 am on Thursday. Governor H R Bharadwaj will administer the oath of office and secrecy.Anoop will get the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies held by his late father in the Chandy government. The portfolios of the four existing IUML ministers will be shared by five ministers.The UDF meeting also decided to extend support to former CPM MLA R Selvaraj, who had broken ranks with the party, to contest the bypoll in the Neyyattinkara Assembly segment. The meet also scotched media speculation on two Rajya Sabha seats by deciding to allot them to the Congress and Kerala Congress nominees.Five IUML ministers will share the portfolios of the four existing ministers.Ali will take over as the Minister of Urban Development and Minority Communities’ Welfare, the two portfolios being currently held by Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty. Anoop Jacob will be minister of Food and Civil Supplies. The decision on the fifth IUML Minister came after marathon talks throughout the day. The KPCC office became a beehive of activity with IUML leaders Kunhalikutty, E T Mohammed Basheer MP and K P A Majeed holding talks with KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala in the morning. Union Minister E Ahmed also flew in and held talks with Chandy.
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