M A I N   N E W S

Karan Singh, S.M. Krishna in race for External Affairs
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 12
With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making it clear to mediapersons accompanying him on his tour to Brazil and Cuba that a new External Affairs Minister will be in place after his return home on September 18, speculation has again gained ground that ICCR Chairman Karan Singh and Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna are the two key contenders.

Initially, after the resignation of K. Natwar Singh in the wake of the Paul Volcker Committee report into the oil-for-food scam in Iraq and the subsequent inquiry by the Justice R.S. Pathak Inquiry Authority, the Prime Minister had taken over the additional burden of the External Affairs portfolio and insisted that filling up this slot could wait.

Clearly, Dr Manmohan Singh now feels this high-profile assignment in a complex global environment requiring sustained economic and national interest diplomacy must have a Cabinet-rank minister expeditiously.

While it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to handpick his External Affairs Minister, sources believe Dr Karan Singh has a significant edge in the race compared to Mr Krishna, presently enclosed in Raj Bhavan in Maharashtra.

The scholar-politician Dr Karan Singh had been deputed by the Prime Minister in April this year to be his special envoy to Kathmandu when the Himalayan Kingdom was in turmoil.

Dr Karan Singh is not new to foreign policy matters and initiatives. He was the youngest Cabinet Minister in the late Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet and has represented the Udhampur constituency in Jammu and Kashmir four times. He is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Considering his deep insight into the Indian cultural tradition and wide exposure to western literature and civilisation, Dr Karan Singh is recognised as an outstanding thinker and leader, both in this country and abroad. A well-known orator, he has lectured in five continents on philosophy, culture, politics and environment. His tenure as India’s Ambassador to the US, though brief, received extensive media coverage and won many friends for the country.

The suave Mr Krishna’s keenness to return to active politics after having been Chief Minister of Karnataka is no secret and has been biding his time. He is hoping the Congress high command will rehabilitate him as evidenced in the case of Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde who quickly resigned as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

The names of Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal are also doing the rounds though it is highly unlikely that they would be disturbed. Mr Mukherjee, has, however, headed the External Affairs Ministry some years ago.

The Prime Minister has told mediapersons en route to Brazilia that the fresh induction into the Cabinet is expected to be confined only to the External Affairs Ministry portfolio for the moment.