NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Maran may lose out in cabinet reshuffle

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

DMK's Murasoli Maran, the all-powerful industry and commerce minister, will have to shed a portfolio, after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ends his visit to the United States, and media speculation re-focussed on a reshuffle in the Union Cabinet..

"The DMK is the only party and Maran is the only minister to hold such portfolios encompassing major policy decisions, some of which have come in for questioning," said sources. "In expecting, if not demanding, a berth, some senior BJP leaders have raised the issue of letting a minister, from an alliance partner, hold two major economic portfolios."

The sources refer to Maran dropping out of Vajpayee's US tour at the last minute. While the Veerappan issue is being rumoured to be the cause, requiring his frequent inter-action with other central ministries on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, sources said there is more than meets the eye.

However, they too concede that the industry and commerce ministries have been brought under one minister only as part of a policy decision, and Maran was chosen leader of a major non-Hindutva constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In this context, they also refer to persistent Shiv Sena demands for better portfolios.

According to sources in the BJP, the prime minister may use this opportunity to assert his supremacy in the distribution of portfolios. "While the reshuffle may not be major, it could be indicative of Vajpayee's declaration of his having arrived on his own this time," said the source. "The timing is just right. The US tour has proved to be a greater success than even the most optimistic predictions. Vajpayee has won over the BJP and there is no leader in sight to challenge him either inside or outside the NDA."

However, questions remain whether Vajpayee will be ready to neutralise the bond the BJP has forged with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. "Maran is a key player and any slight to him could be interpreted as one to the DMK leadership. This, in the regional politics of Tamil Nadu, will be equated with the weakening of the DMK's hold at the Centre, vis-à-vis the AIADMK rival. Whether Vajpayee will bet on this, with state assembly elections due next year, is the question."

What the BJP needs to take into account is the demise of Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam. He was being groomed for a major role in state politics, particularly for the assembly polls in 2006. He reportedly had equal ambitions for a national role, if only an opportunity presented itself.

"His death has left a void, and the BJP is now in search of a young and acceptable leader, who can head the party's campaign in 2006 and beyond. The Tamil Maanila Congress's P Chidambaram, a former Union finance minister, given his middle class appeal, is one such candidate, but the BJP leadership is said to be unwilling to consider him, without a trial by fire, which the former is unwilling to undergo, waiting in the wings during the interregnum".

Vajpayee's decision on a ministerial successor to Kumaramangalam from Tamil Nadu, and his handling of Maran's portfolios will give a clear indication on the BJP's future plans, particularly those for the assembly polls. It will also give a clear indication of Vajpayee's continued concerns for the BJP, as against his image as prime minister.

While indications are that the BJP will seek to continue in the DMK-led alliance, not wanting to upset the NDA apple-cart at the Centre, which would sent out wrong signals to the allies, the party has also received signals from G K Moopanar's TMC.

The latter welcomed BJP president Bangaru Laxman's inaugural speech at Nagpur and shared the podium with Tamil Nadu BJP chief Dr K Kirubanidhi on Sunday, where linking of southern rivers was the issue.

The function had been organised by a thinkers' forum and BJP vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy was to have shared the podium with Moopanar. It was to be the first public podium the two parties have shared since long. While politics was not discussed at the meeting, the DMK's response was swift.

At the concluding session of the DMK's three-day celebrations to honour party founder, the late C N Annadurai, and Dravidian movement founder, the late Periyar EV Ramaswami Naicker, party supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi declared the end of ties with the TMC. "The TMC is no more welcome, but its individual members are welcome," he declared, hinting at the DMK's willingness to split the TMC, whose chairmen are heading panchayats and municipalities across the state, with DMK support.

"The DMK's message is as much for the BJP as it is for the TMC," said a source. The TMC has become an untouchable for the DMK and it would like its allies, including the BJP, and the PMK with its own election strategy, to stay away. In this, the DMK would be referring to the party's steadfast support to the BJP, even when the TMC had wanted it to part company, in the name of secularism.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report