PMO gone, Goel is nowhere

In Parliamentary Affairs, Goel has been asked to coordinate with the NDA allies which again is not top-of-the line when it comes to floor coordination. In the Labour Ministry, he has to catch up with labour reforms to wet his feet.

Pretty much of a let down this, given his earlier assignment in the PMO where he handled the Prime Minister’s parliamentary work, including committees, disputes concerning states and UTs, NDA allies, public relations, Vajpayee’s Lucknow constituency and the PMO grievance cell.

He hurriedly took charge of his office in Labour this week, almost a week after the reshuffle, just to prove he was no longer sulking. But even his supporters are wondering why the ‘‘punishment posting’’ for Goel.

Why was he not, they want to know, reverted to the BJP for organisational work. After all, ministers like Pramod Mahajan, Uma Bharti and Vasundhara Raje were asked to take up the ‘‘more serious job’’ of ‘‘strengthening’’ the organisation. Perhaps the answer lies in the shunting of Goel’s political mentor Mahajan himself.

Goel, on his part, puts up a brave face: ‘‘Every minister gets shifted once in a while. It’s normal procedure.’’ Why then the sulk? ‘‘I am entirely satisfied with my new job. It’s not a demotion.’’

He nursed his Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi with ambitions much beyond its 4 lakh voters. The constituency was expected to take him places, like the Outer Delhi constituency of ex-chief minister Sahib Singh Verma and Sadar constituency of another ex-CM Madan Lal Khurana.

Perhaps the only other place where Goel could have been moved would have been the Delhi unit of the BJP. But that option was also ruled out in view of the BJP going to the Delhi polls under the leadership of Khurana.

BJP leaders also reason that there never was need for a MoS in the PMO. There was none before Goel and no new minister was named in the reshuffle. Not that Goel would consider this a big consolation.