Cong screening names for new govt

It is learnt that at least one member from each of the alliance parties will be sworn in along with Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh. It is also being speculated that Dr Singh may keep the Finance portfolio with himself.

Today, senior Congress leaders negotiated with various allies of the coalition, including Laloo Prasad Yadav, who left for Patna sulking over the fact that he had reportedly not been considered for an important Cabinet ministry.

The Congress is said to be making it doubly sure that Manmohan Singh, who has an image of ‘‘Mr. Clean’’, gets to head a government which is equally non-controversial. And to this end, it is believed that those leaders — both within the Congress and among its allies — who are chargesheeted under any case are not likely to find a place in the government.

As a compromise, the Congress is said to be open to discussing the number of junior ministerial positions like Minister of State, in lieu of Cabinet berths, to those denied any Cabinet berth. Another leader who is finding it difficult to get into the government is Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren.

Amid reports that the crucial post of Minister of Defence might come to it, the Nationalist Congress Party has indicated its willingness to join the government.

The Congress is also said to be keen on including a PDP representative in the government, but is said to be awaiting a reply from the party.

Meanwhile, high-level meetings were held within the Congress between various leaders and Sonia, who has been closely supervising the parleys with other parties.

Late tonight, she met former CMs Digvijay Singh and Ashok Gehlot, apart from other senior leaders in connection with chosing probable ministers.

At the same time, senior party leaders Kamal Nath and Janardhan Reddy are said to be negotiating with the DMK, PMK and MDMK, while Pranab Mukherjee is said to be talking with the NCP.

Ghulam Nabi Azad is said to be negotiating with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Arjun Singh is talking to the RJD. All the leaders are also getting the feedback on what these alliance partners want to see in the Common Minimum Programme.

It is learnt that there is a broad agreement on policies of poverty allievation, welfare of weaker sections and miniorities. Controversial issues like repeal of POTA, separate statehoods to various regions, labour laws etc., are said to be under discussion among the parties.