Jena refuses to take charge as MoS

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked his ministers to get going with their 100-day programmes...

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked his ministers to get going with their 100-day programmes,the UPA Government encountered its first problem with Srikant Jena refusing to take charge as Minister of State,Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Having served as a Cabinet minister in the United Front government,Jena is reportedly unhappy with his induction as MoS. Although he was persuaded to take oath on Thursday,the Balasore MP is not ready to take charge of his office until his grievances are addressed,said Congress sources. Government sources said the party leadership was considering several options,including giving Jena independent charge of a ministry which is being held as an additional charge by some minister. C P Joshi,Sriprakash Jaiswal and Salman Khursheed hold additional charges of Panchayati Raj,Statistics & Programme Implementation and Minority Affairs Ministries,respectively.

Meanwhile,AICC media cell chairman Janardan Dwivedi said the Congress will revamp its organisational portfolios and indicated the partys inclination to adopt the one-person-one-post formula as far as possible.

Asked if AICC office-bearers who have been appointed ministers will be relieved of party work,Dwivedi said: This cannot be said with certainty. But there will be efforts to see that those who work in the Government concentrate on it and those who work in the party do organisational work.

The one-person-one-post formula in the party has gained currency after AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhis refusal to accept a Cabinet berth on the plea that he wanted to focus on organisational work. But it will be a tough call to take as several heavyweights in the party have got ministerial portfolios. Four AICC general secretaries in charge of states have been inducted in the Council of Ministers: Ghulam Nabi Azad,Mukul Wasnik,Prithviraj Chavan and V Narayanasami. Law Minister Veerappa Moily is in charge of two states.

Sources said some Cabinet ministers like Pranab Mukherjee,A K Antony and C P Joshi would most likely be relieved of their party responsibility. While Mukherjee was appointed Bengal PCC chief,Antony was given charge of Maharashtra after Margaret Alva resigned as AICC general secretary last year. Joshi is also the Rajasthan PCC chief. Oscar Fernandes,who could not find a place in the Council of Ministers,is tipped to be given charge of some states.