Chhattisgarh BJP chief quits Cabinet, eyes on Vasundhara

A month after his appointment as Chhattisgarh BJP chief, Minister of State for Commerce Raman Singh today gave up his Cabinet post, attribut...

A month after his appointment as Chhattisgarh BJP chief, Minister of State for Commerce Raman Singh today gave up his Cabinet post, attributing his resignation to the one-man-one-post norm.

However, there was no announcement from the BJP that he had quit the Vajpayee government. The development came to light only after Singh was asked during a press briefing at the BJP headquarters if he planned holding on to the two posts. ‘‘I have resigned as minister,’’ Singh said. ‘‘This morning, I met the Prime Minister and handed my resignation letter.’’

Singh’s resignation was overdue as he was expected to step down immediately after being named the Chhattisgarh BJP chief. His continuation as a minister had given rise to speculation that he may be allowed to hold both the posts. When asked if he favoured such an arrangement, Singh said ‘‘one can do justice to neither, then’’.

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The uncertainty over the fate of another Union Minister of State, Vasundhara Raje, continues. Propped up as president of the Rajasthan BJP, she is yet to give up her ministerial post. The Rajasthan BJP chief, sources said, wants to keep her place in the Cabinet as well.

But since the BJP high command has decided to project her as the chief minister in the next year’s Assembly elections, it would wish that she devotes all her energy to the state.

The task ahead of Vasundhara is not easy. She has to substitute for a leader like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and build bridges with state party leaders who are yet to accept her.