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New Delhi: Rahul
Gandhi's influence in the Manmohan Singh-led United Progresssive
Alliance (UPA)-II ministry is on the rise as three of his
confidants were among the seven new Congress ministers who joined
the 25-month-old ministry, party insiders say.
"Among today's new ministers, Jitendra Singh and Milind Deora
belong to the Rahul brigade and have worked closely with him. The
major backing for Rajiv Shukla also came from Rahul," a Congress
leader, who preferred to be unidentified, told IANS.
Even though Rahul himself may be averse to joining the government
as yet, with today's reshuffle there are seven "Rahul's men" --
all ministers of state -- among the 62 Congress ministers in the
78-member Manmohan Singh team.
"Not that the others, including the senior cabinet ministers, are
not in favour of Rahul (joining the government). They are also for
him and his ideas," the leader said emphatically.
The other four ministers belonging to the Rahul brigade are
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Madhavrao
Scindia, Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways Jitin
Prasada, Minister of State for Communications and Information
Technology Sachin Pilot and Minister of State for Petroleum and
Natural Gas R.P.N. Singh.
Most of these Rahul men are of a political lineage like Sachin
Pilot, Jyotiradiya Scindia, Milin Deora and Jitin Prasada (their
fathers were Congress party leaders) or, like R.P.N. Singh and
Jitendra Singh, belong to erstwhile royal families, said
Kochi-based political analyst K. Sreekumar.
Despite the rise in numbers of the Rahul brigade, the
representation from the rank and file of the Youth Congress and
National Students of India (NSUI) has yet to impact on the
cabinet, said Jaipur-based analyst Baalji Sharma. Rahul has been
concentrating on rejuvenating the Youth Congress and the NSUI for
the past four years, infusing new blood and broadening its cadre
base.
"In the union cabinet at least, Rahul's men are 'rajkumars'
(princes) from royal families or modern royalties of privileged
political families. But in the states, there are leaders from
ordinary backgrounds who have reached top slots through the Rahul
team. Like Kerala's first woman tribal minister Vijayalakshmi, a
national level archer, who was spotted by Rahul and invited to
join politics," Sharma told IANS.
More than the numerical rise, Tuesday's reshuffle saw the Rahul's
men moving into key portfolios, political circles point out.
Jitendra Singh, who used to work in Rahul Gandhi's office till
now, moves to the North Block to be part of the important home
ministry. Similary, both the ministers of the state in the
communications ministry -- Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora -- are
Rahul brigade members.
Political observers see the chances of more people who are known
to be close to Rahul, and who work with him, moving into key
positions if there is a cabinet reshuffle next year, possibly
around the time of the Uttar Pradesh elections.
But why not Rahul himself in the cabinet? Party leaders have only
their individual explanations.
"Rahulji has said several times that he does not have the
experience to become the prime minister. "May be he want to make a
mark as a mass politician, like in the recent farmers' agitation,
and then move into ministership or much more," said a party leader
from Uttar Pradesh, who also did not want to be named on such
delicate matters.
However, the opposition is not all impressed by the moves to
induct younger people in the cabinet.
"The reshuffle has disappointed all, including the ruling party
people. Rahul brigade or Sonia brigade, they are all old wine in
new bottles. They will not be able to save the UPA government
submerged in corruption," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told
IANS.
(George Joseph
can be contacted at george.j@ians.in)
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