Pinarayi Vijayan inducted trade union leader MM Mani into the cabinet as the Electricity Minister
In a surprise move, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who completes six months in office next week, on Sunday inducted trade union leader MM Mani into the cabinet as the Electricity Minister.
The swearing in of Mr Moni is expected to take place very soon.
A first time legislator and a state Secretariat member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Mr Mani told the media that he was happy to have been given more responsibilities and would do his best.
Ever since the resignation of Industries Minister EP Jayarajan, the number two in the Vijayan cabinet, after he allegedly appointed relatives in the government, the portfolio was handled by Vijayan.
The fresh decision came at the end of three days of party meetings of the CPI-M. The portfolios of two other ministers were also shifted.
Kadanapally Surendran, who was the Electricity Minister, will now get the Cooperation and Youth Affairs portfolio, which was held by AC Moideen, who becomes the new Industries Minister.