New Delhi, May 20
A day after Dr Manmohan Singh was formally invited to form the next government, senior Congress leaders were busy grappling with the nitty-gritty of ministry-making today.
They were closeted the whole day at Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence, trying valiantly to accommodate the demands of their own party members and their allies. Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh spent several hours at Mrs Gandhi's residence along with others, including Mr Ahmed Patel, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Ms Ambika Soni, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mr Arjun Singh.
The Congress, however, has an additional task on hand. It has also to strike a balance between the requirements of the new government and the party organisation. With Mrs Gandhi at the helm of affairs, the party organisation has acquired an eminence of its own. The party cannot afford to "lose" its best talent to the government.
When Congress leaders get down to allocate ministerial berths to its members, they will have to ensure that it is not at the cost of the organisation. Party sources maintained that after Mrs Gandhi declined the Prime Minister's post, several senior leaders are opting to work in the organisation, instead of scrambling for ministerial berths.
Having been out of power for nearly a decade and with no previous experience of managing a
coalition at the Centre, the Congress does not have an easy task on hand. This was apparent today as the party had to rush senior Congress leaders R.K. Dhawan and Arjun Singh to placate an angry RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav. At the same time, AICC leaders Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee called on NCP leader Sharad Pawar to sort out any glitches in ministry making.
Party sources the allies have demanded that the Congress-led alliance adopt the same formula for "power-sharing" followed by the NDA. In the earlier dispensation, the railway, petroleum, commerce and defence ministries were allocated to the allies.
It is learnt that there is a tussle between the NCP and RJD for the home portfolio with Laloo Prasad Yadav also eyeing the railway ministry for his party.
However, Lok Janshakti leader Ram Vilas Paswan, sources said, has also shown a preference for the Railway Ministry, failing which he would like the telecom portfolio.
Although no firm information is available, it is speculated that Dr Manmohan Singh might keep the finance portfolio and would appoint technocrats like Dr Bimal Jalan to assist him in the ministry.
Senior leader Pranab Mukherjee is being tipped to take over the Home Ministry while K. Natwar Singh is being mentioned for the ministry for external affairs and Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad for Parliamentary Affairs. Mr Pawar, it is learnt, is being offered the Defence Ministry along with the convenership of the alliance's Coordination Committee.
There are reports that Mr Pranab Mukherjee refused to take the finance portfolio as he had appointed Dr Manmohan Singh as the RBI Governor when he had headed the ministry.
Having been a number two in several previous governments, party sources said, a minister's position in the government hierarchy is also determined by who heads the government's three key Cabinet committees - on security, economic affairs and political affairs.
