WSN Service
NEW DELHI: An influential section of Congress (I) Parliamentary Party is reported to be resentful of an undue weightage given to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s coterie in the formation of the Central Government as well as in the allocation of portfolios.
The coterie occupies six solid seats in the 15-strong Union Cabinet namely Mr Balram Jakhar Mr Arjun Singh Mrs Sheila Kaul Mr Sitaram Kesari Mr MLL. Fotedar and Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. Numerous others have been taken as Ministers of State or Deputy Ministers.
Interestingly none of the 48 M.P.s who signed a statement supporting secret ballot for Prime Ministers election was included in the government. The secret ballot move had the backing of Mr Sharad Pawar the Maharashtra Chief Minister who later struck a deal with the Prime Minister Mr Pawar is now likely to join the Central Government most probably on Wednesday. He is expected to be given cither industry or defence portfolio.
But the Pawar group is unhappy with the way the Council of Ministers was composed or portfolios were distributed It is said that certain States like Andhra Pradesh had been given excessive representation while certain other States pated at all.
A senior member of the dissident camp has been noted as alleging that Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is merely a prisoner in the hands of the cent are and that the party will come to grief if the coterie is allowed to dominate decision making processes.
Another aspect of the formation of the Cabinet is the likely reaction of the parties belonging by the national front and the leftist parties. The Congress (I) will have to depend on the goodwill of those parties for running the government. An important segment of these opposition groups is ill disposed to the Nehru dynasty and its coterie. How will the opposition groups reconcile their opposition to the coterie and their support to the Narashimha Rao Ministry is a moot question.
Meanwhile West Bengal Chief Jyoti Basu had a private meeting with the Prime Minister and stated later that Mr Rao would hold a detailed discussions with C.P.(M) leaders on political matters This Statement evidently runs counter to the stand adopted by national front and leftist parties that they would take up a united stand in their dealings with the Congress (I) government.
In any case the seeds of instability are firmly embedded in the present political dispensation headed by pressing problems such as the situation of near bankruptcy and Punjab and Kashmir issues. Can the Central Government tide over the economic crisis with the help of the leftist parties is another disquieting factor. The leftists support base comprises the junior sections of the vast Indian bureaucracy which is dead set against liberalization of policies involving privatization of the Indias public sector. This sector is not earning and its surpluses are eaten up by the supporters of the leftist’s parties.
Again the Central Government will have to depend on the BLIP. in dealing with the Punjab and Kashmir problems. Any meaningful compromise with the militants of the two states is not on Delhi’s agenda. It has only to look for such easy options as extension of Central mile through constitutional amendments for which the Congress (I) needs not on the national front and the leftist parties but also the B.J.P.s goodwill and support.
The B.J.P. is unhappy these days owing to the postponement of the Punjab election. It expected a bonanza in the absence of Congress (I) from the contest. The party will think twice before extending support to any further constitutional amendment unless the Congress (I) agrees to hold the Punjab elections as per the BJP. Convenience.
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