Manmohan to stake claim after UPA partners' meeting today
NEW DELHI: The meeting of the UPA partners on Wednesday extending support to the Congress-led coalition will set the stage for the formation of the second successive government to be headed by Manmohan Singh.
Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK boss K Karunanidhi met both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to discuss the details of ministry making.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is expected here on Wednesday morning. After the meeting of the UPA partners, Singh is likely to call on President Pratibha Patil to inform her of his readiness and requisite support to form government.
Congress sources mention May 22 as a probable date for swearing-in of the new government. The previous day, May 21, being the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, the party leadership is keen to delay the launch of the new government by a day.
While numbers are no longer a big hurdle for the Congress-led alliance and the process appears to be a formality, working out the terms of power-sharing may create complications. Congress leadership got a reminder on Tuesday when the DMK leadership came up with big `wish list' for portfolios.
The party is asking for shipping for T R Baalu, surface transport for Karunanidhi's son Azhagiri and health for his daughter Kanimozhi.
There is also the fear that the muscle-flexing may encourage similar demands from Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. The Congress had initially estimated that the maverick partner may not insist on big portfolios because she would not like her colleagues to grow in stature. They are not so sure any more. The fear is that the arm twisting may incite the Trinamool leader to up her ante as she would not like to be seen as playing in a league below that of the DMK.
The NCP has lost heft this time, but Congress may have a task on its hand if Sharad Pawar demands that the representation of his contingent should not be scaled down to be brought in line with the new numbers. Besides expectations of a suitable portfolio for Pawar, Congress will also have to manage demands for his associates like Praful Patel.
Besides the number of berths being demanded by the DMK, Congress should be concerned also about its choice of portfolios. DMK is keen on retaining surface transport and shipping which, Congress circles feel, languished under Karunanidhi's disciple T R Baalu for lack of attention and other factors. Similarly, DMK is said to be keen on getting the control of health ministry more as sweet revenge against its partner-turned-foe PMK. It was PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss who held the ministry in the UPA's last term.
Congress would be keen to wrest control of the health ministry because of its importance for the social sector agenda which the party wants to prioritize.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Manmohan-to-stake-claim-after-UPA-partners-meeting-today/articleshow/4553296.cms
NEW DELHI: The meeting of the UPA partners on Wednesday extending support to the Congress-led coalition will set the stage for the formation of the second successive government to be headed by Manmohan Singh.
Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK boss K Karunanidhi met both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to discuss the details of ministry making.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is expected here on Wednesday morning. After the meeting of the UPA partners, Singh is likely to call on President Pratibha Patil to inform her of his readiness and requisite support to form government.
Congress sources mention May 22 as a probable date for swearing-in of the new government. The previous day, May 21, being the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, the party leadership is keen to delay the launch of the new government by a day.
While numbers are no longer a big hurdle for the Congress-led alliance and the process appears to be a formality, working out the terms of power-sharing may create complications. Congress leadership got a reminder on Tuesday when the DMK leadership came up with big `wish list' for portfolios.
The party is asking for shipping for T R Baalu, surface transport for Karunanidhi's son Azhagiri and health for his daughter Kanimozhi.
There is also the fear that the muscle-flexing may encourage similar demands from Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. The Congress had initially estimated that the maverick partner may not insist on big portfolios because she would not like her colleagues to grow in stature. They are not so sure any more. The fear is that the arm twisting may incite the Trinamool leader to up her ante as she would not like to be seen as playing in a league below that of the DMK.
The NCP has lost heft this time, but Congress may have a task on its hand if Sharad Pawar demands that the representation of his contingent should not be scaled down to be brought in line with the new numbers. Besides expectations of a suitable portfolio for Pawar, Congress will also have to manage demands for his associates like Praful Patel.
Besides the number of berths being demanded by the DMK, Congress should be concerned also about its choice of portfolios. DMK is keen on retaining surface transport and shipping which, Congress circles feel, languished under Karunanidhi's disciple T R Baalu for lack of attention and other factors. Similarly, DMK is said to be keen on getting the control of health ministry more as sweet revenge against its partner-turned-foe PMK. It was PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss who held the ministry in the UPA's last term.
Congress would be keen to wrest control of the health ministry because of its importance for the social sector agenda which the party wants to prioritize.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Manmohan-to-stake-claim-after-UPA-partners-meeting-today/articleshow/4553296.cms
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