Thiruvananthapuram, June 5 (IANS) Kerala Minister Sunny Joseph on Friday defended the appointment of his brother-in-law, Benny Thomas, to his personal staff, saying there were no legal barriers to the appointment and that Benny is a committed public worker with a long political background.Responding to the controversy, the Minister said Benny Thomas is a leader who was elected as panchayat president with a record majority and described him as a person engaged in exemplary public service.He also …
Latest Sunny Joseph News & Updates
Thiruvananthapuram, June 3 (IANS) The Kerala Assembly witnessed a heated confrontation on Wednesday over allegations of politically motivated transfers of employees after the change of government, with former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan accusing power brokers and agents of controlling postings.The government, however, rejected the allegations, saying transfers were carried out strictly according to established norms.The Opposition’s adjournment motion seeking a discus…
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Kerala BJP State President, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, extended congratulations and best wishes to the new government as V.D. Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.“Every five years in our democracy, people are given the opportunity to vote and choose a new government, and today is that day. In every democracy, this is an important occasion. In the democracy of our state, through the process decided by t…
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated veteran Congress leader V.D. Satheesan, on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala and conveyed best wishes for his tenure. PM Modi took to social media platform ‘X’ and said, “Congratulations to Shri V.D. Satheesan Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam. My best wishes for his tenure. The Central Government assures all possible support for the newly-formed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspiratio…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (IANS) A day before his swearing-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala, Congress leader V.D. Satheesan on Sunday met eminent Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, also known as Cleemis Bava.The Cardinal currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum.In a post on X, Satheesan said: “Received the blessings and warm wishes of #MarClimisBava ahead of assuming office as the Chief Minister of …
Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (IANS) With the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan scheduled for Monday, the final round of discussions over cabinet formation is set to conclude on Sunday. The final list of ministers is expected to be submitted to the Governor around 2 p.m., while intensive consultations among alliance partners and leadership have been continuing since morning.Congress representative and Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi confirmed…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 16 (IANS) Even before the new Congress-led government in Kerala formally takes oath, the party leadership has begun hectic efforts to prevent the first signs of internal discontent from surfacing. At the centre of the delicate balancing act is senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who is understood to be deeply disappointed over being overlooked for the Chief Minister’s post despite his long administrative and organisational experience.With V. D. Satheesan emerging…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (IANS) With V. D. Satheesan now firmly seated in the driver’s seat of Kerala politics, the celebration within the Congress camp is quickly giving way to the far more complicated and politically explosive exercise of cabinet formation.And if choosing the Chief Minister itself required 10 days of intense negotiations and delicate balancing, the battle for ministerial berths now threatens to become an even tougher test for both Satheesan and the Congress high command.The …
Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (IANS) For Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, the unfolding political transition in Kerala is far less stressful compared to the political turbulence he encountered just days ago while serving as acting Governor of Tamil Nadu.Back in the Kerala Lok Bhavan after a politically charged week in Chennai, Arlekar can finally breathe easier as the Congress-led UDF formally staked claim to power with a massive and unquestionable mandate behind Chief Minister-designate V. D. Sat…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (IANS) After a politically turbulent week in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar now appears headed for a far smoother constitutional exercise as Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan formally staked claim to form the next government in Kerala on Thursday evening.Soon after the Congress Legislature Party unanimously elected Satheesan as its leader and the UDF allies extended their support, the Chief Minister-designate called on the Governor at L…