NEW DELHI, 9 September 2003 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday reinducted two former ministers into his Cabinet in an effort to strengthen his 19-party governing coalition ahead of next year’s general elections.
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of a breakaway opposition Congress party faction, rejoined Vajpayee’s Cabinet after a gap of more than two years.
Mamata had earlier served as railway minister, but quit following differences with Vajpayee over the continuation of George Fernandes as defense minister. She has now been given the coal portfolio.
In 2001, the Internet news portal Tehelka.com reported that the presidents of Vajpayee’s and Fernandes’ parties received cash bribes from journalists posing as defense contractors. Fernandes was removed from his position temporarily, then was reinstated by Vajpayee.
Yesterday, President A.P.J. Kalam also swore in Gingee Ramachandran, head of a southern political party, as the junior textiles minister. Ramachandran had resigned earlier this year after one of his aides was caught accepting a bribe from a government officer for a posting to Bombay, India’s financial capital. The government has apparently cleared Ramachandran of the bribery charge.
