Opinion Inside Track: Different factors
Smriti Irani’s downfall came about largely because she had alienated most of her Cabinet colleagues, including those handling the HRD in the PMO.
Suggestions that the recent Cabinet changes were all about performance are not quite correct; there were other factors as well. Smriti Irani’s downfall came about largely because she had alienated most of her Cabinet colleagues, including those handling the HRD in the PMO. Amit Shah was among those who did not approve of her arrogance, and party leaders were surprised that on occasion, she dropped the Prime Minister’s name while speaking to the media. In contrast, Najma Heptulla’s Eid was extra joyful this year as she was allowed to retain her Cabinet berth although she has crossed the age of 75, supposedly the retirement age for Modi ministers. Heptulla’s strength lies in her ability to please all sections and not get into arguments and controversies.
Some saw Arun Jaitley losing the Information and Broadcasting Ministry as a sign of his diminishing clout; in fact, Jaitley even now has too much on his plate: in addition to Finance and Corporate Affairs, he heads nearly 70 per cent of all GoM (Group of Ministers) committees. His former deputy, Jayant Sinha, was shifted from Finance to Civil Aviation not because of his own fault or that of his high-profile wife (who is a global investor and an independent director on boards of several companies), but because his father, BJP dissident Yashwant Sinha, continues to needle the Modi government. Just a fortnight ago, the former external affairs minister had questioned the need for India to seek NSG membership. Sadananda Gowda was moved out of the Ministry of Law and Justice because despite repeated requests, he continued to spend most of his time in his home state of Karnataka rather than in Delhi.
Dwindling estate
MoS for External Affairs V K Singh has found to his fury that his duties have steadily dwindled over the last two years. He first lost charge of DONER (Development of the North East Region) portfolio to the PMO. Then his minister, Sushma Swaraj, took back the Overseas Indian Affairs portfolio as she felt it should be merged with the MEA. In the latest reshuffle, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, of which Singh was in charge, has gone to Sadananda Gowda. Whatever is left with Singh, which is precious little, he has to share with the new MoS, M J Akbar.
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Before the oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sushma Swaraj tweeted that the media should not make headlines about the fact that she was missing from the ceremony. She had to attend a meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister and therefore could not be present. This did not convince the combative former diplomat, K C Singh, who tweeted that surely Swaraj could have postponed her meeting by an hour.
Quid pro quo
Priyanka Vadra had previously invariably declined requests to campaign outside the family pocket-boroughs of Rae Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. She now seems willing to reconsider her decision and use her considerable electoral appeal to solicit votes in all parts of the state. This is ascribed in sections of the Congress to her gratitude. The party has changed its position on her husband and his companies. Congress spokespersons have always taken the line that Vadra was a private individual and had nothing to do with the party, but now, with the Dhingra Commission of Inquiry soon to release its report, the Congress has taken the stand that Vadra is being harassed because he is a member of the Gandhi family. Even before the report is out, Congress politicians have begun questioning the impartiality of Justice Dhingra’s appointment.
Delhi pulls strings
In the recent Cabinet reshuffle in Madhya Pradesh, Yashodhara Scindia, the sister of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, was demoted from Minister of Industries and Commerce to Youth and Sports. Scindia, one of the few ministers in Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Cabinet who is fluent in English and at ease in western societies, was an able envoy for her state seeking overseas investments. The CM was also pleased with her performance, which makes her transfer puzzling.
Another indication that there was an anti-Scindia slant to the reshuffle was that Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, former national convenor of the Bajrang Dal, was inducted into Chouhan’s cabinet. Pawaiya is a known Scindia family baiter and has contested elections against both Madhavrao Scindia and Jyotiraditya Scindia. It seems that the Cabinet reshuffle was planned from Delhi, by forces inimical to the members of the former ruling family of Gwalior.
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