Vajpayee may opt for two-tier ministry

Hectic consultations are on between the PM and various alliance leaders in which Home minister L K Advani and Bharatiya Janata Party president Kushabhau Thakre are also involved. Jaswant Singh has emerged as the virtual chief negotiator for the Prime Minister in talks with allies.

The sealed envelop containing the names of the new ministers is expected to reach Rashtrapati Bhawan tonight, sources in the government said.

There is speculation that the incumbent in the Industry ministry Sikander Bakht may be moved out of the government to be accommodated elsewhere.

With Telugu Desam party TDP deciding not to join the government, all indications are that Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi may get a second term.

The 20-strong Janata Dal United contingent mainly from Bihar is expected to bag adequate representation in both the tiers with George Fernandes retaining Defence and Sharad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan both slated to get Cabinet berths.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal United Members of Parliament on Tuesday decided to leave the selection of the new Cabinet to the discretion of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee.

The 20 JD U MPs held a meeting at former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan8217;s residence here.

Neither Paswan nor the other leaders gave any indication about the discussions. Those who attended the meeting included the JD U8217;s Parliamentary Party leader George Fernandes, senior leaders Ramakrishna Hegde, Nitish Kumar and others.

JD U president Sharad Yadav had earlier met Home Minister L K Advani and BJP vice-president Kailaspati Mishra.

The 12-MPs8217;-strong DMK contingent declared that it would join the Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance NDA Government but did not make any demands on the number of ministers or any specific portfolios.

The decision was taken at the DMK8217;s parliamentary party meeting presided over by party president M Karunanidhi here. General secretary K Anbazhagan was also present.

A resolution adopted at the meeting said the party has decided to join the Government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee who has pledged to work for a prosperous and strong India in which unity, equality and brotherhood among all sections would be upheld. The Prime Minister has also promised to promote social justice and federalism, it said.

Replying to questions from reporters, Karunanidhi said the majority view in the meeting was for joining the Government.

Asserting that DMK has not bargained for any portfolio or the number of ministers, he said, quot;We have given the names of all the 18 MPs six from Rajya Sabha to the Prime Minister leaving it to him to decide who he wants to choose,quot; he said.

Asked specifically whether DMK had demanded the finance portfolio, he said he had never made such a demand and added there was already a Finance Minister who has also won the elections and DMK would not like to embarrass anyone.

To another question, Karunanidhi said perhaps the Prime Minister would consult him before choosing the ministers of DMK.

Asked whether DMK favoured proportional representation for the party in the cabinet, he said everything has been left to the Prime Minister but he believed that DMK would be given its due in accordance with its strength.

Asked how long the NDA Government would last, the Chief Minister shot back, quot;It is like asking on the marriage day when are you going to divorce.quot;

He said though there could be differences and contradictions among the various constituents, all the parties in NDA were bound by commonly accepted programmes. quot;I am sure no differences will arise within NDA,quot; he said.

Asked whether the DMK, like Jayalalitha, would demand a package for Tamil Nadu from the Centre, he said, quot;I will not demand like AIADMK but we will ask for the State.quot;

To a question whether corruption cases against Jayalalitha would be expedited because of election verdict, he said the cases were initiated because of peoples mandate in 1996 Assembly elections. The question of quickening or slowing down the process was in the hands of legal process.

Asked about Jayalalitha8217;s claim that AIADMK was the single largest party and that DMK8217;s victory was due to electoral alliance, that too only in northern parts of the State, Karunanidhi said AIADMK had also entered into a poll tie-up with others and such statements were made to enthuse cadres.