NEW DELHI, 11 May — Many big surprises are on the cards for the much-awaited reshuffle of the Union Cabinet scheduled to take place some time in the first week of next month.
The list of probables include the names of former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, fire-brand Bengal leader Mamata Banerjee, Bal Thackeray’s protégé Ananth Ram Geethe and the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Democratic (RJD-Democratic) leader Nagmani from Bihar.
But the biggest surprise could be Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s induction in the Cabinet. Sources said Farooq who was eyeing the coveted post of the vice president, has been approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to join Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Cabinet.
Farooq, whose son Omar Abdullah is expected to shift to the Valley soon, wants an important Cabinet berth. Sources said that he is interested in the External Affairs Ministry.
"Nothing has yet been finalized. But there had been talks at the top level. Farooq Abdullah may occupy the seat in South Block if Yashwant Sinha is dropped from the Cabinet and Jaswant Singh becomes the finance minister," revealed a source.
In fact, to replace Yashwant, names of Arun Shourie and Bimal Jalan hadve been doing rounds in the political circles for quite some time. However, on the other side, the BJP high command seems reluctant to induct Rajya Sabha member and Uttar Pradesh (UP) unit chief of the party, Kalraj Mishra.
"There is pressure from some corners. But after the party’s crushing defeat in UP, Mishra’s chances are very slim. His induction can also annoy leaders like Rajnath Singh," said a party insider.
"From West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is desperately waiting to rejoin the Vajpayee government. She has expressed her desire to get back the Railway Ministry. However, the BJP leadership offered her the Coal Ministry which had been lying vacant since Ram Vilas Paswan quit the government," said a source.
Mamata’s close aides said that after failing to get railways, she would try to have surface transport or rural development. In case incumbent minister Venkaiah Naidu is shifted to the party organization, Mamata can easily replace him.
Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav is also likely to be shifted to some other ministry from the Labor Ministry.
The member of Parliament from Bihar, Nagmani, is likely to be inducted in the Cabinet as a minister of state in the Surface Transport Ministry.
From Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena chief has reportedly conveyed his demand to retain the Heavy Industry Ministry after Manohar Joshi’s election to the post of Lok Sabha speaker yesterday. The Sena reportedly wants the industry portfolio for its leader, Ananth Ram Geethe.
