New Delhi, Jul 30: Efforts by beleaguered Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to draft senior leader Ramesh Chennithala in his cabinet appears to have come a cropper with the PCC Chief reluctant to join the ministry under cloud over the solar panel scam.
Chennithala, who is camping in Delhi, did not meet Chandy. However, Chennithala yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the development plans in Attappady, a tribal block in Palakkad district where child deaths were reported following malnutrition.
The PCC chief's only political move here was his meeting with AICC general secretary (in-charge Kerala) Mukul Wasnik.
At the same time, Chandy, who reached here Sunday, held detailed discussions on Kerala situation with senior party leader A K Antony, Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and Wasnik.
The moves to bring the PCC chief in the government were initiated by Chandy who is under intense attack from the opposition with CPI(M)-led LDF demanding his resignation.
"You will hear a good news soon," Chandy said when asked about his mission.
During his meeting with Ahmed Patel, Antony and Wasnik two days ago, Chennithala had expressed unwillingness to join the crisis-hit government, sources close to Chennithala has said.
Meanwhile, leaders belonging to Chandy-headed "A" group in state Congress claimed the key Home Ministry is the bone of contention for Chennithala's entry into the cabinet.
At present, the portfolio is being held by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, a prominent leader in the "A" group. The group leaders said there was no question of giving up the portfolio to "I" group headed by Chennithala.
However, the "I" group leaders claim the Chief Minister had, at one point of time, expressed his willingness to give the PCC chief the Home portfolio.
Latest India News
