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Muraleedharan sworn in Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 11. T he former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, K. Muraleedharan, was today sworn in as a Minister of the Antony Cabinet. The Governor, Sikander Bakht, administered the oath of office and secrecy in English to the new Minister at a simple function in the Central Hall of the Raj Bhavan.

The induction of Mr. Muraleedharan into the Cabinet is the outcome of a settlement formula to end the rather protracted factional feud in the State unit of the Congress. The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, and his Cabinet colleagues were present at the ceremony, but the absence of the Opposition LDF was conspicuous. The Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, and the Deputy Speaker, Sundaran Nadar, attended the function. The senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, along with his daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, also attended the function.

Hundreds of Mr. Muraleedharan's supporters lined up on the Raj Bhavan grounds and outside to witness the ceremony. But they had to return disappointed as the function was held in the Central Hall. A large posse of policemen regulated the crowd, with volunteers of the Seva Dal chipping in to keep the supporters in check. The notable absentee included the All India Congress Committee secretary, Ramesh Chennithala.

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