Pm Emerges As A Good Manager After Reshuffle

The relatively smaller Cabinet expansion -cum - reshuffle exercise as compared to indications from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has proved beyond doubt the deft handling by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of dissenting voices within the coalition during the Budget session and thereafter.

He dangled the carrot when the going could have been tough - while Parliament was in session - by making a statement that he would expand his Cabinet after the Budget session. During a Net chat on Thursday he said he would reshuffle ministries including the economic ministries. This statement was so timed that it came just 24 hours before a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment was to consider the sensitive proposal of disinvestment of majority equity in Air India.

 

While the first statement had a desired impact on all those who were aspiring to get into the Union council of ministers, the second statement appears to have produced desired results when civil aviation minister Sharad Yadav readily agreed to the proposal of offering 26 per cent Air India equity to a strategic partner who could be a foreign airlines, thereby shunning his ministry's earlier proposal of restricting the same to 25 per cent.

Not only did Prime Minister permit the Samata Party to openly lobby for Yadav's portfolio for its nominee Nitish Kumar, senior members of the NDA willingly spoke about the lobbying. Yadav was finally able to save his portfolio by wielding a threat of resignation.

As for those who were aspiring to get a ministerial berth and were disappointed on not finding their names on the list on Saturday, they find no option but to continue their efforts to be noticed by the Prime Minister. With the Parliament session just over, it may not be easy for them to find a forum to express themselves.

Another factor which provides a total advantage to Vajpayee is the allround confusion existing in the main opposition, Congress. The leadership of Congress is constantly under attack from fairly senior level functionaries, including CWC members, and the situation does not promise any improvement in the the near future either. This may prevent the party from emerging as a strong challenge to the ruling NDA for some time.

Besides, the stand taken by various senior party leaders on economic reforms swing like a pendulum from one corner to another. The party's silence on the nuclear deterrent question also indicates confusion. The so-called Third Front is refusing to re-emerge inspite of attempts from the three Prime Ministers.

In such a situation, the state of the opposition appears to have given more strength to Vajpayee than the inherent unity of purpose within the NDA.

Not only the Prime Minister has been able to make his alliance partners swallow the bitter pill of reducing subsidies on foodgrains, fertilizer, kerosenes and cooking gas, he has also been able to restrict the Cabinet expansion to only filling up of vacancies.