  Mamata Banerjee will be given an important portfolio apart from berths to others in her party.(PTI Photo) |
Speaking at the Congress Working Committee meeting on Sunday, Singh pointed to Congress's impressive mandate in the backdrop of an ongoing global economic recession and troubles in India's neighbourhood. Tackling the slowdown ranks high on the PM's priorities as he settles into his second term.
Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee has held charge of finance since the PM went in for his cardiac bypass in January this year, but the search for a full-time minister cannot now be put off. When P Chidambaram moved to home, the PM had considered appointing a technocrat to the job and was seen to have favoured C Rangarajan who has headed the PM's economic advisory council.
At the time Congress seemed inclined to opt for a politician with elections fast approaching. Mukherjee, a shrewd political mind, was drafted to present the interim budget.
This time, the name of Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia is being mentioned. However, while the PM may prefer a trained economist like Ahluwalia or Rangarajan, a case is sure to be made for commerce minister Kamal Nath on the ground that he fits the bill because of capability, electability and loyalty to the party leadership.
As home minister, Chidambaram is seen by Congress leadership to be a vast improvement over his predecessor Shivraj Patil. Though initially reluctant to make the shift from finance, he is seen to be doing a good job. Though he enjoyed his finance ministry stint more, it is unclear whether the leadership would like to move him out of the politically sensitive ministry.
Given the jump in the party's numbers and pruning of the alliance after the departure of Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan, ministerial aspirations are on the rise. However, given the need to accommodate MPs from states like Madhya Pradesh, where Congress has shown signs of revival; Uttar Pradesh, which is a focal area; and Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, which the party has swept, there is not much leeway. There are also senior leaders like Veerappa Moily who have won and need to be accommodated.
DMK has already let out its wishlist and given the critical role played by the party in bringing UPA back to power, its demands for berths like health, environment and forests, highways and perhaps even commerce will have to be considered. Now that the Trinamool-Congress alliance is looking so formidable in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee will be given an important portfolio apart from berths to others in her party.
Though NCP has been bickering with Congress and the two don't completely trust one another, Sharad Pawar's outfit is a pre-poll ally. NCP will also command its share of berths. Further, if the Congress leadership, even if not immediately, does opt for an insurance cover in the form of SP and RJD, the available berths shrink further. This would mean that despite the clamour for young blood, not too many of the younger MPs may become ministers. The average age of the government may drop a bit but not by too much.
The younger MPs, many seen to be Rahul Gandhi's nominees, may not be inducted in large numbers. The first timers of the last Lok Sabha like Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Deepender Hooda and Sandeep Dikshit may have a better chance than those who have made a debut this time, some of whom - Ashok Tanwar, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Meenakshi Sundaram and Bhanwar Ajit Singh are close to Rahul Gandhi. In the 14th Lok Sabha, some of the younger MPs had to cool their heels as it took Gandhi a while before deciding on a party post.
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