Jual Oram, Maneka, Radha Mohan, Ahluwalia in race for Speaker's post

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Jual Oram, Maneka, Radha Mohan, Ahluwalia in race for Speaker's post

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, June 4

BJP veterans Jual Oram (Odisha), S S Ahluwalia (West Bengal), Maneka Gandhi (UP), Radha Mohan Singh (Bihar) are in the reckoning for the post of the Speaker of the 17^th Lok Sabha.

Though Maneka Gandhi is the senior-most member in the Lok Sabha with 8^thterm, S S Ahluwalia is equally senior if the tenures in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are combined. Radha Mohan Singh is also a senior BJP leader from Bihar and so is Jual Oram. All of them were ministers in the Modi government and didn't make the cut in the new dispensation for different reasons.

It can be revealed that another 8^th term member of the Lok Sabha Santosh Gangwar was sounded for the post by the BJP chief Amit Shah. But the Bareli MP who was also a Minister of State (IC) Labour politely declined citing political reasons. He was lucky not to be dropped.

The prospects of Maneka Gandhi do not seen bright considering the fact that she did create avoidable controversies and spoke out of the tune. However, it may politically be beneficial in the Lok Sabha when Sonia and Rahul will have to bend before her.

BJP wants to win Odisha and West Bengal. But Assembly polls are due in 2021 in West Bengal while in Odisha it will be in 2024. Secondly,

Jual Oram is a tribal leader of eminence and his dropping was a bit of surprise. The last tribal to occupy the Speaker’s Chair was P Sangma during the NDA reign. The BJP has high stakes in tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and the North East.

Ahluwalia is an expert on Constitutional affairs and has tremendous legal acumen. If Oram is soft-spoken, Ahluwalia is combative and well-versed in norms and conventions to run the House effectively. That he hails from a minority community is an added advantage for him and won a seat from West Bengal which was very tough.

But no one knows who will occupy the coveted post. It can be dark horse too. The Speaker's poll will be held on June 19.

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by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

NSA Doval given Cabinet Rank, 5 year term

Principal Secretary Mishra keeping fingers crossed

P K Mishra may be promoted

Shake up in PMO likely

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, June 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first move to restructure the PMO by granting Cabinet status to his most trusted lieutenant Ajit Doval cabinet status and five more years as the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Since the posts of the NSA, Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra and Deputy Principal Secretary P K Mishra are co-terminus with the tenure of the PM, the first order was issued giving second term to Doval and a promotion.

With this promotion an anomaly has also been ratified as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is 1977 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) while Doval is 1968 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS). In a major over-haul of the foreign affairs ministry, Modi decided to bring an expert from outside who had joined the TATA on a big salary two years ago. Modi decided not to induct Sushma Swaraj into his team of Top 4 for some unexplained reasons and brought Jaishankar who didn't have too cordial a relationship with her.

Thus giving Cabinet rank to Doval, Modi has recognised his contribution in the national security domain. In the reporting apparatus, Doval is equivalent to the status granted to Home Minister Amit Shah and S Jaishankar though technically both of them are senior in Order of Precedence. With the induction of heavyweight Amit Shah into the Home Ministry, the role of Ajit Doval in internal security affairs will obviously be advisory only. The Intelligence Bureau's first point of reporting will be Home Minister and not the NSA. Similarly, Jaishankar is an old hand in foreign affairs where Doval's role will be much reduced.

Now all eyes are set on the next announcement of Nripendra Mishra who is also hoping for an extra five year term. However, insiders in the PMO say that prospects of his continuation are not bright and he may be made a Governor later. P K Mishra, deputy Principal secretary, who is loyalist and man of high integrity may be promoted, these sources say.

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Why Modi gave Home to Amit Shah ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Why Modi gave Home to Amit Shah ?

Needed an Iron Man to discipline Police, Intelligence

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, May 31

The allocation of Home portfolio on debut to Amit Shah is a clear indication that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi wanted an “Iron Hand” to deal with police administration and overhaul the security and intelligence apparatus.

Though Rajnath Singh is a veteran party leader and stationed in North Block for the past five years as Modi's number two. But he failed to make Delhi a role model in law & order and bring cohesiveness among the the various wings of the security apparatus. Rajnath Singh is a status-quoits with no-risk taking person and failed to crack the whip in the intelligence agencies and police organisations across the country. His coordination with NSA Ajit Doval was also lacking because he would not take any initiative, sources say.

In the first year of Modi government, there were reports of differences between the two also surfaced when the PM mentioned about the activities of his son holding meetings in five star hotels in Delhi. Though these reports were denied but Rajnath Singh became so cautious that he would not move a finger without asking the PMO thereby making Home Ministry a subservient. Modi showed great patience and waited until the second inning began and installed his right hand man in North Block.

Though there were reports that Amit Shah will get the Finance portfolio. But Modi alone knew what he wants to do and he installed Shah in Home at the first opportunity without disturbing the Number 2 position of Rajnath Singh in the government. This will be first time that Home Minister will not be Number 2 in the government. Historically, it had happened when Devi Lal was Deputy PM but with Agriculture Ministry portfolio.

Shah will now coordinate all activities of country's security including sensitive J&K, Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau and other agencies.

Though mistrust always existed between the PM and the HM since the time of Nehru-Patel and the “Vikas Purush & Loh Purush” analogy during the Atal-Advani days created a huge mistrust between the South Block & North Block then. But in the case of Modi and Shah, times, situations and age are different. Shah, 54 year old, is the product of Modi who will be 69 and looking for able successor himself. He has no family to nurture personal ambitions. Therefore, he in on hunt for talent and ideas and experimenting with new faces where first timers become Finance Minister in Nirmala Sitharaman.

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Decks cleared for Mega Swearing in

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Decks cleared for Mega Swearing in

Modi wants Amit Shah in Cabinet

Jaitley opts out,

65-70 Ministers to take oath

There will be some surprises too 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, May 29

Decks have been cleared for the mega swearing-in-ceremony of the Modi government tomorrow evening in the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

It looks almost certain that the BJP president, Amit Shah will join the Union Cabinet. In all probability he will be given the Finance portfolio. Arun Jaitley had already opted out of the ministerial assignment due to health reasons. Lokmat was first to break the story about Jaitley opting out on May 24 itself. It is also learnt that Rajnath Singh will not be disturbed and continue to hold the Home portfolio. In the event of Sushma Swaraj also opting out of the External Affairs Ministry due to health reasons, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may be sent there. Piyush Goyal is sure to make the cut for either Finance or even External Affairs Ministry. The catch is that Jaitley's letter said he will take a few months to recover. Will the PM give one key ministry in dual charge under one senior minister, is not clear.

Another thing is clearly emerging that mega ministry will be sworn in comprising of almost 65-70 ministers including eight representatives of the allies' parties.

The biggest contingent of Ministers will be from Maharashtra, UP, Bihar and Rajasthan. There were 22 ministers from the Rajya Sabha who belonged to the BJP when the party's strength was just 73. Now BJP has bigger mandate in the Lok Sabha of 303 and allies like JD(U), Shiv Sena, Akalis, AGP, AJSU, BDF, Apna Dal, SKM, RLP, NPP, NDPP, LJP and AIADMK. Modi will also like to keep a window for some future allies too. Therefore, the share of the BJP MP s will be reduced this time and many of them who were in the government in NDA-I, will have to sit out.

In the event of Amit Shah joining the government, out-going Health Minister J P Nadda will be new party President.

Modi is likely to keep motormouth out and induct those faces who help in his slogan- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Viswaas.

The Maharashtra contingent could include Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar, Heena Gavit or Poonam Mahajan, Dr Subhash Bhamre, Raosaheb Danve and two from Shiv Sena. Ram Das Athawale may also be retained though his party was not given a Lok Sabha ticket. Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu is also a key member of the Modi ministry.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Ravi Shankar Prasad (Bihar), Smriti Zubin Irani, Thaawarchand Gehlot ,Dharmendra Pradhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi,

Anil Baluni, (Uttarakhand), Tejaswi Surya (Karnataka), Aprajita Sarangi (Odisha) may be inducted. Interestingly, a couple of those who lost out may also be brought in like Bharti Ghose from West bengal and Hardeep Puri from Punjab.

Birjinder Singh and Krishanpal Gurjar from Haryana may make the cut. Chaudhary Birender Singh will not be a Minister. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goyal and Manoj Tiwari are also in the reckoning from Delhi. 

Modi will start calling the new appointees some time tomorrow morning at 6 am and call them over tea at 9 am at Loknayak Marg residence, sources say.

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Rahul determined to quit, No formula acceptable

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Rahul determined to quit, No formula acceptable

Blew his Top over CWC leak !

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, May 29

The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing with Rahul Gandhi firm on quitting party chief's post. He rather went a step further and told the CWC to find a new leader outside the Gandhi family to lead it and there is no going back.

An extremely upset Rahul Gandhi not only refused to meet senior party leaders after two tumultuous meetings- May 25 and May 27- but take their calls. Senior party leaders had gone to his 12 Tughlaq Lane residence yesterday to persuade him to reconsider his decision. Instead, he sped away in his Honda car with his pet. He did not even alert the SPG commandos guarding him 24X7 before leaving in a huff. Later, he was tracked at his sister Priyanka Vadra's Lodi Estate residence. He made it clear that he wants to give a free hand to the leader selected by the CWC.

Now on Priyanka Gandhi will interact with the party leaders.

Rahul Gandhi is virtually blew his top when he discovered that the deliberations at the extended CWC on May 25 were recorded and leaked by a member to a TV channel. The TV channel even broadcast the 30 second clip. Later, the clip was withdrawn. But someone sent the clip to Rahul Gandhi on his mobile and Rahul stunned everybody by telling them that “one of us has even leaked what is going on here.”

It is here when he said there are people who want to destroy the Congress from within. He also rapped a leader who left for London in the midst of the campaign.

Though there are many senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, A K antony, Motilal Vora and Shiela Dixit for the interim party chief post, Mallikarjun Kharge's prospects seems bright.

Sheila Dikshit has been quoted as saying it is difficult for party leaders to come to any conclusion now.

Even party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had hinted of the leak saying, “we expects everyone, including the media, to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC.”

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