Over the years, Kerala’s cabinet has always had a representation of Hindus, Muslims and Christians for a sense of balance, but never before has any government allowed religious groups to dictate its every decision as it has done now. Under pressure from various community-based groups, the Congress-led government has reshuffled its cabinet to accommodate each one’s wishes. The cabinet, headed by a Christian chief minister, was first expanded to give more space to the Congress’s junior partner Indian Union Muslim League, then the portfolios of the Congress’s own Hindu ministers were rejigged to ensure that they handled crucial departments.