Govt May Transfer Senior Officials To Appease Jaya

The Vajpayee government has reportedly told AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha that it could replace one or two senior bureaucrats if she promised not to seek any more transfers.

According to one minister the government has promised to shift senior officials such as revenue secretary N K Singh and company law secretary T S Krishnamurthy. Singh could be shifted to the Prime Minister's office or the Asian Development Bank, the minister said.

The government on Thursday transferred M K Bezboruah from the enforcement directorate. That reportedly pleased Jayalalitha enough for her to offer to renew talks.

Defence minister George Fernandes returned to Chennai yesterday with the offer of transferring some more officials and the bait of inducting more ministers from among her allies. In return, he hoped to obtain a commitment that she would make no further demands.

 

Senior BJP leaders, however, fear that Jayalalitha may withdraw support after they give in to her demand of transferring key officials. They, therefore, decided that no BJP leader should go to Chennai to resume the dialogue.

A senior party leader said yesterday that even if Fernandes obtained a commitment for continued support. the transfers would not be effected until Monday since there is widespread speculation that she may withdraw support on Sunday.

The BJP has demurred at Jayalalitha's other demand that Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy be inducted as a minister. Swamy's indictment by the Jain Commission has further weakened his case, one party leader added.

The way was opened for renewed talks after the government unilaterally transferred Bezboruah from the enforcement directorate to the Delhi government's transport department.

Jayalalitha spoke to Union minister of state for coal Dilip Ray on the telephone late on Thursday night and expressed her happiness over the transfer. She then spoke to Fernandes on Friday morning and expressed her willingness to renew talks.

An unwilling Vajpayee has agreed to transfer NK Singh, who is close to senior BJP leader and Vajpayee confidant Jaswant Singh, a Union minister said.

The Prime Minister's office had objected to his transfer even when this was demanded by the party's swadeshi lobby and backed by Union finance minister, he said.