T U Kuruvila inducted into Kerala Cabinet

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 15: Kerala Congress (J) leader T U Kuruvila was today inducted into the V S Achuthanandan Cabinet in place of P J Joseph, who resigned as Public Works Minister recently following allegations of sexual misbehaviour with a woman co-passanger onboard a private airliner.

Governor R L Bhatia administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Kuruvilla at a simple function organised at the Raj Bhavan here.

Mr V S Achuthanandan and his Cabinet colleagues were among those, who attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Mr Kuruvila, who represents Kothamangalam in the state Assembly, reached the venue accompanied by Mr Joseph and other party workers.

The is the first induction of a new face in the Achuthanandan Cabinet which assumed office four months ago.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress activists burnt the effigy of the new minister alleging that Mr Kuruvila, a former chairman of the state Housing Board, was involved in the financial irregularities in sanctioning houses to the poor under the Maithri Housing scheme.

UNI