LDF ministry sworn-in on May 18

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: A new Left Democratic Front (LDF) government headed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politbureau member V S Achuthanandan will be sworn-in in Kerala on May 18.

The CPI(M) State Committee, which met here today, unanimously elected Mr Achuthanandan to head the government.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr Ahuthanandan told mediapersons that the swearing-in ceremony would be held at 1600 hrs at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on May 18.

He said the size of his Cabinet and portfolios of the ministers would be decided at the LDF coordination committee slated to meet on May 17.

Earlier, a brief statement issued after the State Committee meeting said it had unanimously elected Mr Achuthanandan as the Chief Ministerial nominee.

The meeting also unanimously approved proposals on the ministers presented by party State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. The number of ministers and other details would be finalised at the LDF meeting, the statement added.

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Politbureau members Sitaram Yechuri and S Ramachandran Pillai also attended the day-long meeting, presided over by party Central Committee member M A Baby.

Eighty-two-year-old Mr Achuthanandan, a two-time Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, was given the mantle to head the government as he was generally considered the architect for the LDF victory in the Assembly elections.

The LDF secured 98 of the 140 seats in the three phase elections throwing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) out of power.

UNI