No Idukki representative in govt, Apu to be chief whip

Thodupuzha: Despite UDF winning all five assembly seats in Idukki, the district failed to secure representation in the V D Satheesan-led ministry, leading to widespread disappointment among people in the high-range region. However, P J Joseph's son Apu John Joseph of Kerala Congress (J) is set to be appointed govt chief whip.In 2021 elections, UDF had won only Thodupuzha in the district. This time, UDF swept all five constituencies in Idukki. In the first Pinarayi Vijayan govt, M M Mani represented the district in the cabinet, while Roshy Augustine was a minister in the second Pinarayi govt.The district's ministerial hopes were centred around KPCC vice-president Roy K Paulose, who won from Idukki, and KC(J) state coordinator Apu, who represented Thodupuzha. Congress won both Idukki and Ettumanoor seats that KC(J) had given up. It is learned that UDF brass had promised Joseph two ministerial berths after KC(J) gave up two of its 10 seats to Congress. Contesting in eight seats, KC(J) won seven, with loss only in Kanhangad.Within KC(J), only Kaduthuruthy MLA-elect Mons Joseph secured a cabinet berth. Though Joseph made last-minute efforts to secure a ministerial position for Apu, a compromise was eventually reached with chief whip post.This is the first time since 1991 that Congress candidates were elected from Idukki. Paulose, Syriac Thomas (Peermade), F Raja (Devikulam) and Senapathy Venu (Udumbanchola) of Congress have won.Since the formation of Idukki district in 1972, several Congress functionaries, including Jose Kuttiyani, K K Thomas, A K Mani, E M Augusthy and Rosamma Chacko, had served as MLAs but the district never had a Congress minister. DCC president C P Mathew had publicly raised this issue earlier.Joseph, who represented Thodupuzha 10 times in the assembly, had served as minister on seven occasions.