Heavyweight Cabinet

The installation of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government marks a turning point in India's post-Independence history. It is truly the triumph ...

The installation of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government marks a turning point in India8217;s post-Independence history. It is truly the triumph of democracy that the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was considered untouchable until a few months ago, today heads the largest-ever coalition that has come to power at the Centre or in states.

Though Vajpayee has to prove his majority on the floor of the Lok Sabha within 10 days, it is almost certain that he will cross the obstacle. Between 1996, when the BJP leader got a freak chance to form a government that lasted just 13 days, and now, there has been a metamorphosis in his own fortunes and that of his party.

What facilitated the change was a realistic assessment by the BJP that it would remain stuck in its grove unless it forged a strategic alliance with parties in states where it could not on its own make an electoral impact. The strategy paid excellent dividends and it was in recognition of this that it went in for a national agenda more to take care of theyearnings of its allies than its own.

In doing so, it recognised that any wrong move could put asunder what Vajpayee and others in the party had cobbled together, as underscored by the letter drama Jayalalitha enacted. It was the same consideration that weighed with Vajpayee when he constituted his ministry.

In a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is presumed to have the prerogative to choose his ministerial colleagues. But one of the casualties of coalition governments becoming the order of the day, first in some states and now at the Centre, is this prerogative of the chief executive.

For instance, I.K. Gujral had no say at all in the choosing of his ministers as it was they who chose him. Vajpayee too did not get much freedom to choose his ministers. Even so it should be said to his credit that he has got a team of able colleagues. In fact, in recent years no Central Ministry has had such a large presence of political heavyweights as there are under Vajpayee.

Some of them, such as NaveenPatnaik of the Biju Janata Dal, may be new to the Union Cabinet but they are there in their own right. A notable aspect of the ministry-making is that the BJP had taken care not to rub its allies up the wrong way. Though the formula of giving every party a Cabinet post for every six members it had was evolved to prevent any wrangling over seats, the BJP did not remain a prisoner of its own formula.

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The flexibility it chose allowed it to give a Cabinet post to the Lok Shakti, which has only three members. More than any formula it was political realism that was the guiding factor as denoted by the inclusion of Buta Singh in the Cabinet.

Despite Vajpayee8217;s balancing act, several states like West Bengal and Kerala go unrepresented. It is an indication that there will be an expansion of the ministry, perhaps, after he wins the vote of confidence. Besides, he would also like to watch the performance of some of his MPs before he considers them for a ministerial berth.

It makes sense to reserve the posts ofdeputy ministers for debutante but promising members. To be fair to Vajpayee, few can complain about the composition of the ministry. This is no mean achievement, to begin with.