KOCHI: The IUML’s long-pending demand for a fifth Cabinet berth will take centre stage at the UDF meet to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. The meeting will be attended by IUML leader E Ahmed, which is expected to give them an edge in the negotiations. Admitting that the issue of fifth ministership of IUML would be discussed at the meet, UDF convener P P Thankachan said that “the final decision rests with the top leadership, especially Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Senior leaders are in discussion with the Muslim League leaders.” He did not confirm if a detailed discussion would be held on other issues like the cabinet berth for Anoop Jacob. Sources in the Congress say that the party is bound to accede to IUML’s demand. Though a few of the IUML leaders have said they do not want to create any issue at this juncture, most of the leaders are of the opinion that they would not be able to deviate from what their president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal had announced, giving the UDF no space to manoeuvre. IUML general secretary K P A Majeed said there was no difference of opinion within the party with regard to the fifth ministership. “Our stand is clear and it would be raised in the meeting,” he said. Some say that the Congress is even mooting a formula to give the IUML a Rajya Sabha seat which will fall vacant in the coming months. But this is going to be another contention as Kerala Congress (M) has already been eyeing it. Though pressure is mounting from all quarters, the Congress maintains that no discussion had taken place about the fifth ministership within the party. K Muraleedharan, who is a member of the cordination committee constituted to decide on the 21st minister, said that no discussion has taken place in the parliamentary party meeting. He also said that he was not aware if any of the top leadership is holding any discussion in this regard. Congress spokesperson M M Hassan also said that no decision had been taken till now.
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