The state Secretariat of the CPI (M) in Kerala is learnt to have decided to induct eight new faces into the list of 12 ministers the party will have in the 19-member cabinet led by Pinarayi Vijayan.
The list is expected to be formally approved later today. Allocation of portfolios would be finalised on Wednesday when the new ministry is sworn in.
The CPI, second largest partner in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition, is expected to decide on the list of four names from the party for ministership later today.
The Janata Dal (S) (JD-S) and the National Congress Party (NCP) are being allocated a cabinet berth each.
Among the new faces in the CPI (M) list are two women, K.K. Shailaja and J Mercykutty Amma. P. Sreeramakrishnan is likely to become the Speaker of the new assembly.
Other new faces are EP Jayarajan, C Ravindranath, TP Ramakrishnan, Kadakampally Surendran, AC Moideen and KT Jaleel.
Apart from Pinarayi Vijayan, other likely members of the cabinet with ministerial experience are Thomas Isaac, AK Balan, and G Sudhakaran.
The legislature party of the CPI (M) will meet her later today to formally elect Vijayan as its new leader.
He would then call on Governor P Sathasivam to stake a claim to form the new government.