Sharing of corporations, boards almost over

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid protests and utter desperateness of half-a-dozen minor partners in the UDF, the sharing of corporations and boards at the disposal of the government is almost over.Though the UDF meet convened on Wednesday night was abruptly called off  as a mark of respect to the departed former MLA Eapen Varghese, the main agenda of the meet on the division of a lion’s share of corporations/boards was accomplished. Out of the 67 organisations which came up for consideration, most of them corporations, the Congress kept 20, keeping another 20 in reserve for it. IUML will have 17, including the well-rated SIDCO, KSIDC and KMML and Kerala Congress (M) will have 10. IUML has also ensured that it will have a few more Boards, once the rift with minor parties is settled.  The news of the demise of Eapen Varghese was, in fact, a breather for the UDF leadership, as representatives of JSS, RSP(B), KC(B) and CMP were so restive at the meet to the extent of emphasising that slots needn’t be allotted at all to the parties, as representatives felt that it was ‘gross injustice’ towards them at the behest of major parties in the front.A few among the parties insisted on their choice of organisation and asked the leading partner and others to keep for themselves if the demands could not be acceded. Socialist Janata (Democratic), which has been allotted five corporations/boards in accordance with its strength of two MLAs in the Assembly, is also unhappy as its prime demand for handing over the reigns of all corporations under the Agriculture Ministry to party nominees was not fully met. It was also pointed out that the stand of Congress and IUML was against the understanding during the time of Assembly polls when the Azhikode and Nenmara seats were taken over from the CMP and SJD respectively.The main grouse of smaller parties in the UDF is that they have been given only a pittance in the form of namesake organisations such as Kannur Clay and Ceramics, Foam Mattings India Ltd, State Warehousing Corporation, Co-operative Employees Welfare Fund Board etc. “It was actually a sharing of slots between the Congress, IUML and KC(M),” fumed a leader of a minor partner in the UDF.