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Reshuffle in the air as Congress ministers offer to quit
Tuesday April 24, 2012 09:16:40 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
Amid speculation of a rejig in both the party and the United
Progressive Alliance government in order to gear up for the 2014
political battle, five Congress ministers have reportedly offered
to quit to strengthen the party.
Both Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State in
the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy have reportedly
offered to quit saying "the party came first".
Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said he has been
asked by the party high command to look into Andhra Pradesh
affairs since general secretary in charge of the state Ghulam Nabi
Azad, who is the health minister, is busy. Azad too has reportedly
offered to step down, sources said.
The Congress Tuesday suspended eight Lok Sabha members from Andhra
Pradesh after they disrupted the House demanding a separate
Telangana state.
Another minister who has reportedly offered to move to the party
is Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who is considered a
strategist.
Sources said a reshuffle in the cabinet and the Congress could
take place after the ongoing budget session ends May 22.
The reshuffle has been necessitated after the party fared poorly
in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, increasing its tally by just
six seats - from 22 in 2007 to 28 - despite a high-pitched poll
campaign by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
In Punjab, the Congress could not defeat the incumbent Akali Dal
government due to infighting in its state unit, while in the
Uttarakhand polls, where it ran neck-and-neck with Bharatiya
Janata Party, the party had to work hard to handle dissenting
minister of state for agriculture Harish Rawat and install Vijay
Bahuguna as chief minister.
Khurshid, who has earlier headed the Uttar Pradesh Congress, said
if asked to quit he won't mind serving the party again.
Khurshid's remark on quota for Muslims which had invited criticism
from the Election Commission and on the Batla House shootout
during the assembly elections had become controversial. His
utterances were cited by state leaders as one of the reasons for
the party's poor show in the politically crucial state.
Stating that leaders regularly communicate with the party high
command, Khurshid said "the party came first but the government is
the ultimate platform to test the ability of a leader."
Narayanasamy told reporters "party is the priority", and added,
"Whatever post she (Congress president Sonia Gandhi) gives me in
government or party is final."
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