Sivagiri Mutt head Swami Sachidananda is advocating for increased representation of backward class communities in Kerala's new UDF government, urging the inclusion of more backward class MLAs in key cabinet positions.
Sivagiri Mutt head Swami Sachidananda on Sunday sought greater representation for MLAs from backward class communities in the UDF government's Cabinet.
The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by Sree Narayana Guru, is a key spiritual centre of the numerically strong Ezhava community.
He was speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan here.
Sachidananda said he congratulated Satheesan and submitted a memorandum outlining the demands.
He said that nine persons in the UDF associated with Sree Narayana organisations have won the election.
"We requested that at least three or four capable among them be made ministers. We hope he will consider it," he said.
He said that during the election period, a list of candidates to be given seats was submitted to UDF leaders, of whom nine emerged victorious.
"The number of elected members from backward communities has increased, and we are happy about it. There should be guidelines for appointing ministers and their personal staff," he said.
Sachidananda said the Mutt had also made another request.
"There is a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe department and a minister for it in Kerala. There is a need for a backward classes welfare minister. There are around 42 backward communities in the state, and for their comprehensive development, such a portfolio is necessary. We have conveyed this request," he said.