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Chavan's
job may herald changes in government, Congress
Wednesday November 10, 2010 03:22:00 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
New faces are likely in the Congress and the government following
the appointment of central minister Prithviraj Chavan as the next
chief minister of Maharshtra, party sources said Wednesday.
Chavan, 64, shouldered key responsibilities both in the party and
the government, which party leaders said was a sign of trust he
enjoyed from both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress
president Sonia Gandhi.
In the party, Chavan was in charge of Jammu and Kashmir where the
Congress runs a coalition government with National Conference.
In his own quiet style, Chavan steered the party over factionalism
and was part of central government efforts to restore normalcy in
the state after months of civil strife that led over 100 people
dead.
Chavan became a minister in the Prime Minister's Office in the
first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. When the
Congress returned to power in 2009, he was given the portfolio
again.
As minister for personnel, public grievances and pensions,
Chavan's area of responsibility included the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) which is dealing with many politically
sensitive cases.
The ministry is also the cadre controlling authority for the
Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Chavan was also made minister of state (independent charge) for
science and technology and earth sciences, and minister of state
for parliamentary affairs.
Congress sources said Chavan's choice as chief minister of
Maharshtra would result in redistribution of work both in the
organization and the government.
They said with several portfolios falling vacant, there was
likelihood of a cabinet reshuffle. Its timing would be decided by
the prime minister in consultation with the the Congress
president.
They said that Gandhi is likely to reallocate work in the
Congress, making appointments to the Congress Working Committee
before the party plenary next month.
The sources said that the main reason for choosing Chavan was his
clean image, his record as an administrator, accessibility and his
ability to connect with generation next.
Some Congress sources underlined that the party needed a strong
leader who could stand up to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
chief Sharad Pawar.
Chavan exhibited his approach to work through political consensus
when he piloted the nuclear liability bill. He held extensive
consultations with the opposition to accommodate their points on
the contentious legislation.
The party sources said Chavan, a three-time Lok Sabha MP and at
present a Rajya Sabha member, is likely to exhibit the same
consensual approach in dealing with factional issues in
Maharashtra Congress.
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