KOCHI: It seems the IUML’s claim for a fifth minister is going to be a matter of contention in the UDF camp soon after the Piravom bypoll. According to sources, the Congress leadership is not happy with the Muslim League’s open declaration that their fifth minister would take the oath of office soon after the byelection. Sources said that the Congress would not succumb to the IUML’s pressure tactics, which could only add to the ongoing feud within the UDF.They said that the issue would spill some bad blood within the UDF, and the Congress would face a real dilemma in sorting out the issue.Though the IUML claims to have got an assurance on the fifth berth, they said that a final decision in this regard had not yet been taken at the UDF meetings. The League is learnt to fight it out for the fifth berth as they claim to have been instrumental in forming the ministry. The IUML with 20 MLAs is the second largest partner in the UDF ministry. IUML general secretary K P A Majeed said that there were no issues with regard to the fifth ministerial berth. “A final decision will be taken after the election,” he said but refused to comment on the party stand if the delay continued. The issue of ministership resurfaced with IUML president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal on March 1 stating that the party had decided to stick to its demand for a fifth slot. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson M M Hassan said that they had nothing to say at the time of election. When pointed out that the party had publicly announced the ministership of Anoop Jacob and had been keeping silent on the IUML issue, he said that the two were different issues. “Anoop Jacob is representing a party that had a berth in the Cabinet. But IUML’s demand is a new one,” he said.Hassan also said that it could not be said if any decision would be taken after the election. UDF convener P P Thankachan said that though there were discussions regarding the ministership, no decision had been taken yet. “The final decision has to be taken by the Chief Minister,” he said. K Muraleedharan, who is a member of the co-ordination committee constituted to decide on the 21st minister, said that no discussion had taken place in the Congress in this regard. “I will not be able to say anything further because of the bypoll,” he said. Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed was the first to announce that Anoop would become a minister if he wins the election.
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