Minister post a recognition for YC workers’ stirs: Janeesh

Thrissur: Youth Congress state president O J Janeesh, who has been selected as a minister in the V D Satheesan cabinet, on Sunday said his selection was a recognition of the agitations by Youth Congress workers against LDF govt."This is a recognition for thousands of Youth Congress workers, who launched intense agitations against the evil deeds of the outgoing Pinarayi govt and endured unparalleled tortures in the last ten years,'' said Kodungallur MLA-elect Janeesh."I'm only a representative of those workers and my selection as minister will certainly inspire many more people to fight against anti-people policies of regimes in office in future too. Agitations by Youth Congress workers had a major contribution in bringing down the Pinarayi regime,'' he told TOI.Janeesh, in his debut to the assembly, defeated sitting MLA Sunilkumar of CPI with a margin of 8,000 votes. On being selected as a minister, he said, "I feel extremely happy. There were certainly hopes that the sacrifices of Youth Congress workers, including me, will not go unrecognised,'' he said.On reports that he was a last-minute selection, Janeesh said, "There were discussions earlier too. But I just wanted to keep a low profile.''There were reports that Thrissur was unlikely to get a cabinet berth in the Satheesan govt considering the front's poor show — UDF could bag only four seats while LDF won nine — in the district.DCC president Joseph Tajet said Janeesh's selection was also recognition for the party district unit. His induction into the cabinet will contribute to the district's all-round development, Tajet said in a statement.Interestingly, Thrissurites can claim to have two ministers in the new cabinet as another minister-designate K A Thulasi hails from Kondazhi in the district, though she was elected from Kongad in Palakkad.