Chennithala row: Kerala CM briefs Sonia

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Monday briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders about the crisis in the state unit over the induction of state unit chief Ramesh Chennithal in his cabinet with a plum portfolio.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Monday briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders about the crisis in the state unit over the induction of state unit chief Ramesh Chennithal in his cabinet with a plum portfolio.

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Chandy also met Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel and general secretary in-charge of Kerala affairs Madhusudan Mistry.

Sources said Chandy briefed about the controversy that has led to a vertical divide in the state unit.

While Chennithala’s supporters are demanding deputy chief minister’s post with home or revenue portfolio keeping in mind his seniority in the party, the Chandy camp is opposed to any move to make him the number two in the government.

“A decision on his induction will be taken based on the advice from the central leadership and through discussions in the state,” he later said. Chandy, however, blamed media for creating “confusion” in the party over the issue. “I am not saying that there will be a deputy chief minister or there will not be a deputy chief minister. It is the media, which say all this,” he said.