Operation Overhaul

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh brought in changes, inducting new ministers to manage crucial portfolios such as foreign affairs, petroleum, power and mining, as part of a last-ditch gambit to breathe life into his scam-hit government ahead of the general elections due in 2014. In all, the prime minister inducted 22 ministers — seven of cabinet rank and 15 ministers of state with two holding independent charge. The large-scale changes marked the rise of a number of young (at least in the Indian context) ministers said to be close to Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, and an effort by the ruling party to retrieve a dire situation in the electorally crucial state of Andhra Pradesh, which contributed 33 MPs to the Congress tally of 206 in 2009.
The notable changes included a change in responsibilities for Jaipal Reddy, the veteran politician from Andhra Pradesh, who has appeared to be somewhat out of sync with the campaign started by Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram from the middle of September to boost the faltering economy by clearing investment proposals and initiating big-ticket reforms.
Reddy was switched from petroleum to the low-profile science and technology portfolio. Reddy’s replacement is M Veerappa Moily, who, stockmarket participants feel, might adopt a pragmatic approach.
Further, the Congress leadership appeared determined to rebuff anti-corruption campaigners led by Arvind Kejriwal by switching Salman Khurshid to external affairs from law, signalling the leadership’s continued trust in him.
Another high-profile minister, Kapil Sibal, will now look after just the telecom department, after being divested of the human resource development ministry. The HRD minister’s run-ins with the Opposition, analysts say, have seen the stalling of as many as 11 key education legislations.
The reshuffle also saw the ascendancy of two ministers considered political lightweights — Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar. Bansal will manage railways, hitherto the domain of powerful politicians. Kumar, who is believed to be close to the prime minister, has replaced Khurshid as the law minister.
Ajay Maken, a counterweight to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the Capital’s politics, has been put in charge of the housing and urban development ministry.
Tewari, Scindia, Pilot, Jitendra Singh and Bharat Singh Solanki made their entry into the government’s high table by getting independent charge of crucial departments. Among these, Tewari is the only one who has worked his way up while the others are scions of political dynasties. The elevation of these leaders clearly points to an attempt to give the new generation a chance to prove itself. There are also expectations that younger leaders who have not found a place in the government will be drafted for organisational work when the party revamps its leadership team in the coming days. The new team will help Congress fight the battle of perception as the government attempts to turn around its fortunes after being hit by a series of big ticket corruption scandals.
Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has been brought in to handle parliamentary affairs to devise a plan to break the parliamentary gridlock. The complete breakdown in relations between the treasury and the Opposition is certain to make things difficult for the government. Nath, who shares a rapport with senior leaders of the Opposition, is seen to have the political wherewithal to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. But success of the government’s legislative agenda will depend on the attitude of the Opposition.

With the party finding itself on a slippery slope in Andhra Pradesh, the cabinet reshuffle saw the state getting the biggest share of the booty. While MM Pallam Raju, a junior minister, was elevated to cabinet rank and awarded the plum HRD portfolio, four MPs from different regions of the state were accommodated as ministers of state.
Kerala was a surprise beneficiary in the reshuffle as it got a share disproportionate to its parliamentary strength in the government. After the induction of Shashi Tharoor and Kodikunnil Suresh, the state has eight ministers.
West Bengal leaders Adhir Chowdhury, Deepa Dasmunshi and AH Khan Chaudhury, who have been leading a high-decibel campaign against the West Bengal chief minister, have been rewarded in the ministry expansion.