Ramesh Chennithala to be Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly

 Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is likely to be the Leader of Opposition in the 14th Kerala Assembly. Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will remain the chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF). 

Quoting sources in the Congress, Asianet News reports that an informal meeting of the party leaders held at Kerala Pradesh Congress headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram reached a consensus on Friday to give the post of the Leader of Oppositon to Chennithala. Chandy, who was the chairman of the UDF past five years, will retain the position. 

Former minister KC Joseph, who is considered to be a close aide of Chandy, will be the deputy leader of the opposition in the Assembly. Chandy had stated earlier that he will not take up the responsibility of the Leader of Opposition. 

The group equations in the Congress legislative party is in favour of Chennithala, who is leading the I-faction that enjoys a majority among the legislators of the party. 

The Congress is likely to announce the Leader of Opposition officially before Sunday. The decisions of the informal discussions will be communicated to the Congress High Command for its approval. 
 

• Ramesh Chennithala
• Leader of Oppostion
• Oommen Chandy