Jaya Asks For Reversal Of Officials' Reshuffle

Prime Minister A B Vajpayee is likely to ignore AIADMK leader Jayalalitha's demand that all secretarial transfers, including those of former Enforcement Directorate chief M K Bezboruah, former revenue secretary N K Singh and former finance secretary Montek Singh Ahluwalia be rolled back rather than trying to mollify her, a Prime Ministerial aide said yesterday.

Jayalalitha yesterday wrote to Vajpayee alleging that people around him had taken "hefty bribes" for the transfers which were made without even consulting the minister for personnel, K M R Janarthanan of the AIADMK. An aide to the PM said, "We have not received any letter. When we get it, we will see".

 

The aide did not deny that Janarthanan was not consulted. In fact, the indication was that it was a deliberate move and more such actions should be expected. The new mantra in the PMO appeared to be: "let her do what she likes, and the Prime Minister will do what he likes''.

The new stance is based on the assessment that Jayalalitha would not give the final blow unless the Congress gives a green signal that it was prepared to form a government. The Prime Minister's power managers indicated that whatever the public stance of Congress leader Sharad Pawar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is not in a position to dislodge the government at present.

They believe that Jayalalitha cannot risk withdrawing support in case the Vajpayee government survives without her support, or even as a caretaker government. "She must ensure that there is an alternative before she can withdraw support", said a politician close to the Prime Minister.

An aide said that if Jayalalitha did not withdraw support, Vajpayee might even go in for a small cabinet expansion, in the coming week including a minor reshuffle of portfolios.

Vajpayee's belligerence comes at a time when the non-Left secular opposition is virtually pleading with the Congress to take the lead in replacing the Vajpayee government. Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav have even suggested that they are ready to evict former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar from the Front if that can persuade the Congress to form a government.

The Congress' stand is clear. It will not precipitate the situation but step in if there is a constitutional crisis following the fall of the government under the weight of its own contradictions.

Sonia Gandhi's aides claim that she has a communication channel with Jayalalitha which is working well. But Sonia is not too keen to run a government with the help of allies who have conflicting views on several crucial issues. Besides, the Left parties are currently busy preparing for their respective party conferences.

The Vajpayee government has decided to bank on its assessment of the current situation rather than try to mollify Jayalalitha. It is hopeful that it might scrape through even in a floor test in case Jayalalitha withdraws support.