Congress govt faces teething problems

Paswan mollified after being denied rail portfolio, but Athawale supporters cry foul

A day after the swearing in of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his 67-member council of ministers, there were hectic political parleys and last-minute efforts by some Cabinet ministers from the Congress' allies for weighty portfolios.

Most of the confusion related to what portfolio Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan would get after a public display of his displeasure yesterday after he was reportedly denied the railways portfolio, which may go to Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Paswan, who met both Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, is understood to have pressed for the health ministry.

After prolonged negotiations with the Congress leaders and former Prime Minister VP Singh, Paswan agreed to settle for either the health or chemical and fertiliser ministries.

After meeting the Prime Minister this morning, Paswan told reporters that he did not have any problem with regard to the allocation of portfolios. In a reconciliatory gesture, Paswan, apparently peeved over missing out on his portfolio of choice, went along with his wife to meet Gandhi.

"Portfolio doesn't matter to me," he said, when asked if he was still upset about not getting the railway ministry.

The LJP leader had consented to participate in the government, but immediately after the swearing-in ceremony said the alliance of his party with the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was only for the Lok Sabha elections and that he was free to take a decision independently for the coming Assembly polls in Bihar.

Paswan's demand had led to a last-minute request from the Congress to the PMK to give up its claim for the health portfolio, leading to a delay in the finalisation of portfolio allocation today.

Sources said a Congress emissary had approached PMK chief S Ramdoss to reconsider the claim for the health portfolio, which the party wanted for its nominee Anbumani Ramdoss, who was sworn in as a Cabinet minister yesterday.

But, the PMK supremo said a firm 'no' to the request, the sources said, adding, the issue has been sorted out.

Meanwhile, angry supporters of RPI chief Ramdas Athawale demonstrated outside the the residence of Gandhi over the denial of a ministerial berth to their leader. They raised slogans and sought the induction of Athawale in the United Progressive Alliance government.

The demonstrators threatened to launch an agitation if their demand was not met.