)   Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan on Monday sought to placate the Latin Catholic Church, which was reportedly miffed about the non-inclusion of a member of the Latin Catholic community in the United Democratic Front (UDF) Cabinet.  Mr. Satheesan made a dash for the official residence of the Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop, Thomas J. Netto, hours after he took the oath of office and announced the portfolios of the Cabinet members.  Earlier, the Latin Catholic Church’s Vicar-General, Fr. Eugene H. Periera, had expressed concern that successive governments seemed to give Latin Catholics short shrift when it came to representation in administration, often treating the laity, a significant electoral bloc, as a vote bank. According to some accounts, the Church leadership had even contemplated boycotting the UDF government’s swearing-in ceremony.  Moreover, the Church leaders reportedly felt that the Congress leadership had passed over M. Vincent, MLA-elect from the Kovalam Assembly constituency in Thiruvananthapuram, and T. J. Vinod, MLA-elect from Ernakulam, both of whom hail from the Latin Catholic community, for ministerial rank. Moreover, Latin leaders also felt they were being shrugged off by the Congress leadership, which vested the Fisheries ministry in the Indian Union Muslim League, though the Latin Catholic community comprises the majority of the State’s coastal population. Notably, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had argued for Mr Vinod’s inclusion in the Cabinet, alongside Anwar Sadat, MLA.  Mr Satheesan’s office stated that the Chief Minister promised that upholding the progress, well-being, livelihood, physical quality of life, education and economic development of coastal communities was the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s top priority. 

Published - May 18, 2026 08:37 pm IST