Governor P. Sathasivam has invited the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Chief Minister-designate Pinarayi Vijayan to form the next government.
The Governor extended the invitation to Mr. Vijayan after CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan met him and submitted a letter on behalf of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) staking claim to form the government. Mr. Balakrishnan, who was accompanied by CPI leader E. Chandrasekharan and NCP leader A.K. Saseendran, also handed over to the Governor a letter communicating Mr. Vijayan’s election as leader of the LDF parliamentary party and expression of support of all the LDF constituents to Mr. Vijayan.
A Raj Bhavan communiqué said here on Monday that the Governor has appointed Mr. Vijayan as Chief Minister under Article 164(1) of the Constitution and sought from him a list of persons to be appointed as his Ministerial colleagues. The swearing-in ceremony would be held at 4 p.m. at the Central Stadium here on Wednesday, the communiqué said.
Elected leader
A meeting of the CPI(M) legislature party held here on Monday elected Pinarayi Vijayan leader of the legislature party.
The meeting, chaired by CPI(M) veteran V.S. Achuthanandan, also elected M.M. Mani party Whip and S. Sharma as legislature party secretary.
