Railway ministers are known to dole out largesse to their home states and constituencies but new incumbent Pawan Kumar Bansal from the Congress party appears to have interpreted his role within the rubric of coalition politics. The ministry under Bansal has overturned an unwritten rule set by his predecessors of giving preference to berths reserved on recommendations of members of Parliament (called the EQ quota) only and strictly for their close relatives and family members. Now, sources in the ministry say, the EQ quota has been opened to all and any recommendation by an MP, irrespective of whether the passenger is relative or friend of the MP or otherwise.
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