Kerala Congress(M) names Thomas Unniyadan new Chief Whip

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (M), a key ruling UDF partner, today named its MLA Thomas Unniyadan as new government Chief Whip two days after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy accepted the demand for the removal of party's dissident vice-chairman P C George from the post.

A letter in this regard would be given to the Chief Minister today, KC-M supremo and State Finance Minister K M Mani told reporters here after announcing his party's decision to appoint Unniyadan, who represents Irinjalakuda assembly segment in Thrissur district, as Chief Whip.

George was removed from the post following sharp differences between him and Mani.

Unniyadan, who won the last three Assembly elections from Irinjalakuda, is also the president of the Kerala Congress (M) Youth front.

Unniyadan told reporters that he would conduct the duties of the post in a responsible manner.

Asked about coming Rajya Sabha polls in the state, he said UDF has no anxiety over the RS polls. "As per the UDF strength, two of its candidates will win. There is no anxiety over it," he said.

Congress leader and former Union Minister Vayalar Ravi and IUML leader P V Abdul Wahab are the UDF candidates for the biennial polls scheduled for April 20.

CPI-M leader K K Ragesh is the LDF candidate for the one winnable seat of the Opposition.