By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune
New Delhi, 23 May (asiantribune.com): DMK component of the new Indian government will be in place next week as backroom players worked over time to win over sulking Karunanidhi and thus create ‘an all is good with allies’ backdrop for the swearing in Manmohan Singh cabinet on Friday evening.
Besides the Prime Minister, nineteen cabinet ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Pratibha Patil at the glittering Ashok Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil administering the oath of office of the Prime Minister to Dr. Manmohan Singh at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 22, 2009.
They include old faces – Pranab, Chidambaram, Antony, Kamalnath and Pawar. Trinamul chief Mamata took oath in her trademark white sari with a green border. Two former Karnataka chief ministers SM Krishna and Veerappa Moily are the first time federal cabinet ministers.
There were no young faces. All the new cabinet ministers are above 60-years. Their portfolios will be announced later.
The cabinet list (alphabetically): AK Antony, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, BK Handique, CP Joshi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Kapil Sibal, Mamata Banerjee, Meira Kumar, Murli Deora, N Veerappamoily, P Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar, SM Krishna, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Vayalar Ravi.
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil administering the oath as Cabinet Minister to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 22, 2009.
DMK Hiccups
During the day there were conflicting reports on the thaw between Congress and DMK. A sulking chief minister M Karunanidhi returned to Chennai though A Raja and some other MPs attended the swearing in ceremony.
By evening however, Congress chief spokesman Janardan Dwivedi told reporters that decks were cleared for DMK joining the government. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress senior, who was scheduled to visit Chennai on Saturday to mollify Karunanidhi, cancelled the visit.
‘There was no hitch on names as speculated in the media. Who should be DMK ministers is for that party to decide’, he said adding that the stalemate was primarily on portfolios and their number that DMK could have.
In so many words he indicated that TR Baalu and A Raja could return to the Manmohan Singh cabinet and that DMK would have two cabinet berths, one minister of state with independent charge and three ministers of state.
Another version was that the DMK would have three cabinet berths and four junior minister posts, all independent charge.
PM Reaches Out To DMK
Amongst the likely faces of DMK in the Singh government will be T R Baalu, A Raja and Azhagiri and Kanimozhi. Induction of Baalu and Raja will be a bit of anti-climax after all the media build up against them with some prompting from deep throats.
It also will mean a dent in the image Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted to cultivate a ‘clean image’ for his government. He appears to have yielded after Congress President Sonia Gandhi met him after sulking Chief Minister Karunanidhi left by the 10 AM flight to Chennai.
When he met the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan after the swearing in ceremony, Singh said he has no issue with the induction of Baalu and Raja.
"Both are Honourable colleagues. There is no controversy over their induction", he said reaching out to the DMK leadership.
He expressed confidence that DMK would join his government. "The Congress offer is good. I hope the DMK understands this and joins the government".
It is possible that if the Congress will have its way, Dayanidhi Maran will get back to his old IT Ministry.
Baalu, who had held Surface Transport, will be getting Chemicals and Fertilizers. Heavy Industries will go to Raja. Azhghari tipped for health. Kanimozhi will get women and child development, according to sources. There is no word as yet from the DMK camp.
The other sulking ally, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah is also expected to be pacified and inducted on Tuesday as a Cabinet Minister.
-Asian Tribune -
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