Rahul in cabinet may alter pecking order
13 Aug 2012 6:54 AM IST
After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made the statement about the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi joining his cabinet, the talk in the political circles has moved to what all it will entail apart from he getting a plum post. His induction in the cabinet is likely to be a part of the larger cabinet reshuffle. Congress strategists may use the occasion to give a message of an informal composition of Gandhi's core team within the cabinet.
As of now, several leaders considered part of Gandhi's charmed circle, like Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, are in the cabinet but hold insignificant positions in varied ministries. 'Despite their presence, the cabinet wears a jaded look,' said a leader close to the party's most important general secretary.
'We are looking at Rahul Gandhi's induction to energise the cabinet and give a push to party agenda, which has got bogged down by coalition politics,' added the leader. The opportunity could also be used to induct members from other parties of the United Progressive Alliance in the reshuffle. The DMK is yet to get the replacements for A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran after they were dropped from the cabinet on corruption charges.
On the query about what could be Gandhi's possible choice of the ministry, the source in the Congress said, 'He could go for any ministry of social sector, which could be human resource development or rural development or even social justice and empowerment.'
The source added, 'After the Uttar Pradesh election debacle, Rahul needs to go in for an image make-over. That is why he would be focusing on the social side of policy making in the country rather than stepping into the finance and economy sectors, leaving this job to be done by the PM.'
As of now, several leaders considered part of Gandhi's charmed circle, like Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, are in the cabinet but hold insignificant positions in varied ministries. 'Despite their presence, the cabinet wears a jaded look,' said a leader close to the party's most important general secretary.
'We are looking at Rahul Gandhi's induction to energise the cabinet and give a push to party agenda, which has got bogged down by coalition politics,' added the leader. The opportunity could also be used to induct members from other parties of the United Progressive Alliance in the reshuffle. The DMK is yet to get the replacements for A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran after they were dropped from the cabinet on corruption charges.
On the query about what could be Gandhi's possible choice of the ministry, the source in the Congress said, 'He could go for any ministry of social sector, which could be human resource development or rural development or even social justice and empowerment.'
The source added, 'After the Uttar Pradesh election debacle, Rahul needs to go in for an image make-over. That is why he would be focusing on the social side of policy making in the country rather than stepping into the finance and economy sectors, leaving this job to be done by the PM.'
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