KOCHI: A possible ministership of an yet-to-be MLA candidate has been raking up a controversy in the state. A statement by Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed that UDF candidate Anoop Jacob would become a minister if voted to power, has given birth to a new debate.Meanwhile, giving an entirely new dimension to the controversy, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala on Friday declared that Anoop would be made a minister.Sensing the chance, the LDF soon prowled on the issue. “It is a clear case of blatant violation of the code of conduct. The Chief Minister should make it clear whether Aryadan had made the statement as directed by him,” said CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Pinarayi added that the LDF would approach the Election Commission and file a complaint. With the candidate’s ministership becoming a hot topic for election debates, the UDF leaders too fought back.“The only issue that came up at this juncture was whether Anoop Jacob would be made a minister before or after the elections. Beyond that nothing happened. Both Anoop and the UDF never thought he would be made a minister before the elections,” said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.Going one step ahead, Chennithala made it clear that Anoop would definitely be made a minister if he wins the bypoll. “I would like to declare what Oommen Chandy covertly said. Anoop would be a minister if voted to power. I assure you, let him win with a good majority, next week, he will be a minister,” declared Chennithala.In a quick reply to the “code of conduct violation controversy”, Chennithala said there was no violation in making such a declaration. “I have gone through all legal aspects. There is no violation. In the last elections, we contested with Oommen Chandy as our chief minister candidate. Was that a violation?,” he asked.Interestingly, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, looking for another ministerial berth for the IUML in the Cabinet, opted for a meaningful silence in the issue while speaking at the election convention.
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