New Delhi, May 20: RSS may have decided not to interfere with ministry-making but it feels that BJP president Rajnath Singh and party leader Arun Jaitley should join the government.
BJP sources said Sangh leaders camping in Delhi gave their assessment in the context of Rajnath's stated stand that he would like to continue in the organization.
This was confirmed by sources close to Rajnath although they refrained from spelling out whether the party chief is ready to reconsider his stand yet.
RSS's advice to Rajnath is seen as significant because it may clear the way for the appointment of a new party chief, probably someone who is in sync with PM-elect Narendra Modi's need to revamp the organizational machinery.
Party circles consider general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda among the possibilities. The former chief of the BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha comes from Himachal Pradesh and worked under Modi when he was general secretary in charge of the state. In his early 50s, Nadda also enjoys a good rapport with BJP's "star" general secretary Amit Shah as both were part of the same BYJM team.
Party circles rate low-key Nadda as the archetypal 'organization man', with a good reputation among Sangh circles.
RSS leaders have also advised Jaitley not to opt out of government because of his defeat in Amritsar constituency.
Senior RSS leaders Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosbole had visited Jaitley, considered a shoo-in for the finance portfolio, after the result.
"RSS is of the opinion that one's personal setback should not distract him from the larger goal of the organization," said a senior BJP leader.
Rajnath has been speculated as a possibility for both defence and home. One school in the party feels the home ministry should be split into two, and the responsibility of internal security assigned to a new department which can be under a minister of state who will report directly to the PM. The argument is faulted by those who feel that having a senior in an untrimmed home ministry can buffer the PM against mishaps, like a Maoist attack, which are fairly common, cannot be eliminated overnight and can cause embarrassment to the home ministry.
Modi had a series of meetings with senior party leaders including Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje in what was described as a ministry-making exercise. Political circles are keenly looking forward to the allocation of portfolios as this is expected to provide a good insight into the saffron hierarchy under Modi. Although sources said specific names for heavyweight portfolios have not been discussed yet, speculation was rife about who might get what.
Indications that L K Advani may be willing to be Speaker of Lok Sabha keep growing, a good one coming from his daughter Pratibha who said the veteran could consider handling the constitutional position if asked by the party. However, there was no clarity about the leadership's preference for a position which in unreliable and ambitious hands can become a source of distress for the government.
Former party chief Nitin Gadkari has been speculated as a hot probable for an important economic portfolio because of his reputation for efficient execution of projects. PWD minister in the Sena-BJP coalition in the 1990s in Maharashtra, Gadkari has been credited with the construction of Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well as flyovers in Mumbai.
Ex-leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and parliamentary board member Ananth Kumar, who easily overcame the challenge of Nandan Nilekani to win the Bangalore South seat yet again, are both seen as certainties for Cabinet berths. But party circles are agog with speculation about the choice of portfolios for them. Ditto for Murli Manohar Joshi, who like fellow stalwart Advani and RSS leaders camping in Delhi, was the recipient of a "courtesy call" from Modi.
Modi, who had breakfast with party general secretaries, also met Karnataka leader B S Yeddyurappa. Sources close to the former Karnataka CM claimed that he was not a claimant in view of pending corruption cases against him.
Modi also met NDA partner Ram Vilas Paswan whose LJP won six of the seven seats it contested in Bihar and boosted BJP's chances in many more. Sources said the Dalit leader was certain to get a good portfolio in the light of his contribution to Modi's total as also the recognition that continuing the partnership will help the BJP in Bihar elections.
Comments
Add new comment