Mahajan is PM’s advisor

NEW DELHI, April 2: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today appointed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Pramod Mahajan as his political adviser with immediate effect. Mahajan will enjoy the rank of a Cabinet minister. Defence Minister in the BJP’s 13-day government in 1996, Mahajan has since then moved closer to Vajpayee although in party circles, he is identified with president L K Advani as his key lieutenant in Maharashtra politics.

With today’s appointment, Mahajan will play a larger role in the government. Sources said Vajpayee will tap his skills in political management including coordination among allies and Opposition parties in Parliament.

Mahajan is the second senior BJP leader to have been inducted into the government after Jaswant Singh who was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, also the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

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Both had lost the Lok Sabha elections and Vajpayee was reportedly keen on their inclusion in the government.

Given the party’s policy tokeep its organization distinct from the government, Mahajan is not likely to be renominated general secretary.In another exercise, Sudhindra Kulkarni, an aide to Advani, has been absorbed in the Prime Minister’s Office. He is likely to be given the rank of Officer on Special Duty.