The right home minister

Home Minister P Chidambaram may have offered to resign after the Dantewada Naxal attack, which killed 76 security personnel, but the Congress leadership still believes he is the right person for the job. During the formation of the second UPA Cabinet, Congress President Sonia Gandhi was advised that she bring another senior leader as the home minister. But, leaders like Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony urged her to retain Chidambaram. “He is doing a fine job. If you change him, it will send a wrong signal,” they said. Chidambaram’s initiatives as the home minister were much appreciated in the party and by his Cabinet colleagues. According to a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security, “In the meetings, he always came prepared and armed with precise reports on issues. He is very clear about what needs to be done and has set his priorities right.”