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| Surprising is Antony's appointment as Defence Minister | | Pranab Mukherjee moves closer to PMO in South Block | | B L KAK
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has, at last, brought about the much-awaited expansion-cum-reshufle of his Ministry. It was at the reported instance of his political arm, Sonia Gandhi, that he finally put in place the new Minister for External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee. The reshuffle that was due for almost six months is also a precursor to an eminent reshuffle in the Congress organisation.
A hop, skip and jump for a hesitant Mukherjee to his new office-- almost a year after Natwar Singh had to quit after his name figured in the Volcker commission report--literally means that he moves a little more closer to the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) in the South Block.
Another surprise was the investiture of former Kerala Chief Minister, A K Antony, as the Defence Minister. Antony may not have the required experience and expertise for handling the crucial defence matters. But his close proximity to Sonia Gandhi once again enabled him to shoot into prominece. Another trusted person of Sonia Gandhi is Oscar Fernandes. While Fernandes, who was without a portfolio so far, got the Labour and Employment Ministry with independent charge, Congress MP from Karnataka and filmstar, M H Ambareesh, was made Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
As Minister of State, Oscar Fernandes will be Priyaranjan Dasmunsi’s deputy in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Rashtriya Janata Dal's Jai Prakash Yadav, who was to resign following an arrest warrant against him, is now back as Minister of State for Water Resources.
But the question is should there have been more changes in key ministries. Has this been a damp squib? Was this an opportunity squandered yet again by the Prime Minister? Should Manmohan Singh have drastically overhauled his Cabinet? Could Manmohan Singh have effected major changes in the top? According to some analysts, it is an opportunity squandered. There should have been a good chopping and changing, a proper report card of Ministers prepared and lot of young talent-- which the Congress party has-- should have been inducted. If they are not groomed now, when will they groom them?
But then did the Prime Minister have any real choices before him? Is this really Manmohan Singh's Cabinet any more or are there outside influences dictating to him who should be in what portfolio? Surely he wanted more reform-minded ministers at this moment. There are some others who maintain that Tuesday's reshuffle is clearly indicative of politics of compromise. The biggest surprise perhaps was Antony who has, undoubtedly, a clean image, but has no track record as an administrator.
Tuesday's reshuffle has prompted some observers to talk of some crucial diferences between the present UPA government and the NDA regime. There is no denying that the NDA brought in a lot of young people and groomed them. People who have now become Chief Ministers--like say Raman Singh--had a lot of grooming. The NDA gave people like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Shahnawaz Husein and Omar Abdullah--all those were very young people groomed to take an important responsibility.
Compulsions of coalitin politics just cannot be ignored. That a chargesheted man like JP Yadav has been brought in is obviously part and parcel of coalition politcs. Both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi will have to admit hat here are a large number of people in the Congress organisation who deserve a chance and have not ben given a chance because stability taking precedence over every other factor. This trend does indicate that mediocrity is being elevated at the cost of genuine talent in the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre.
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