INDIA: COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

MAN UNITED

Anand Sharma gets commerce and industry, Murli Deora retains petroleum, while Kamal Nath takes charge of roads and highways PERFORMERS GET KEY PORTFOLIOS AS PM TIGHTENS GRIP

PR Ramesh NEW DELHI

    PRIME Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday added 59 new ministers — 14 at the Cabinet level, seven ministers of state (MoS) with independent charge and 38 MoS — after reconciling conflicting interests and aspirations of his party colleagues, his party's need to shore up in vulnerable areas and injecting an element of youthful energy.
    The 59 new ministers who took oath of office included three former chief ministers — Vilasrao Deshmukh, Farooq Abdullah and Virbhadra Singh. The PM's grip on economic policy-making was tightened with appointments in key ministries. The sign of his determination to place people he wanted where he wanted came last week itself when he refused to accommodate DMK ministers in key infrastructure ministries. The DMK had to contend with Cabinet posts in telecom, fertilisers and chemicals and textiles.
    His resolve to hand over key infrastructure ministries to proven performers was evident in the appointment of Kamal Nath for the roads and highways portfolio. As is his selection of GK Vasan, son of the late and workmanlike GK Moopanar, for the shipping department.
    The appointment of Salman Khursheed as the new corporate affairs minister — a job held in the previous government by the Lalu factotum Prem Gupta — is proof, if indeed it were needed, that with the shackles of allies off, Manmohan Singh now means business. Murli Deora has got an endorsement in petroleum as Mr Singh has asked him to continue, while Assam veteran BK Handique has chosen for mines.
    Anand Sharma, whose elevation as Cabinet minister was no surprise last week, was given the key twin portfolios of commerce and industry. Coming as it does as India prepares for crucial WTO negotiations — a job commendably done by Kamal Nath in the previous regime — it is a reflection of the leadership's implicit faith in Mr Sharma's ability.
    After five years of grievance mongering in the HRD, the department is now in the hands of Kapil Sibal, whose outlook is as modern as can be in the current dispensation. Veerappa Moily, though not a minister in the previous government, was among the most sought-after Congress leaders. He is the new law minister.
    The selection of experienced Congress leaders for infrastructure ministries is expected to boost Mr Singh's premiership at a time when the country is going through an economic crisis. The government, in any case, has sufficient elbowroom to operate, as it does not have populist allies or the constant carping Left to deal with in this term.
    The PM and his finance minister Pranab Mukherjee have already said they will take the measures required to put the economy on the high growth trajectory.
UNFINISHED AGENDA: THE ROAD AHEAD
Road Transport and Highways
1. Accelerate pace of awarding road projects 2. Clear backlog, award another 35 highway projects
Civil Aviation
1. Inject life-saving capital to the turbulent airline industry 2. Allow FDI in domestic carriers by foreign airlines 3. Revitalise national carrier Air India
Telecom
1. 3g and Wimax auction within 2 months 2. STD at 25 p and local calls at 10 p per minute 3. Will have to take call on Bharti-MTN
Steel
1. Achieve production target (120 million tonne by 2012) 2. Raw material security
Oil & Natural Gas
1. Transparent oil subsidy mechanism 2. Tax exemption to natural gas production
Commerce
1. Check falling exports. 2. Ink free trade agreements with Asean and South Korea
Finance
1. Financial sector reforms, fiscal measures to boost economy 2. Disinvestment
Power
1. New capacity addition 2. Boost nuclear power
Corporate Affairs
1. Evolve a new company law, bankruptcy code 2. Fully operationalise Competition Commission of India Cong aims to bring Dalits back to its fold
THE centerpiece of the exercise was also the exclusion of non-performers and those who breached institutional decencies. Arjun Singh, who was judged even by his admirers to have disappointed at the education job, did not find a place in the government. Nor did HR Bhardwaj, who was the source of perennial embarrassment. The composition of the government clearly suggested that there would be greater cohesion on policy issues. Leaders like Arjun Singh did not just have differing economic stance, but had a tense personal relationship with the PM. Mr Singh will now be able to exercise greater authority.
    The composition of the Manmohan Singh team suggested a power shift — from the cowbelt to states in the South, West and East. About 40% of the council of ministers is from Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
    Most of the important portfolios will be handled by leaders from these regions. Another noteworthy feature was large representation of Dalits. There are as many as 10 of them which is a clear indication that the Congress is determined to bring the section back to its fold.

We are not averse to FDI. Existing norms allow 49% FDI in local carriers. In the last govt, there was a proposal to allow foreign carriers to invest in domestic ones. It may not happen overnight, but will happen eventually PRAFUL PATEL, MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CIVIL AVIATION

SUBSCRIBE TO Free SMS Alerts on India Stock Markets
OR SEND SMS "ON WAY2TRADE  " TO 9870807070
DisasterAwareness | Health | Insurance |  Forex| Commodities|

Earn decent money by receiving SMSes on your cell phone.  Free Signup!
Indian Coins to traeasure for Life Buy at ebay

Chat ways2invest wilint

Contact Me

Ways2Health HOME REMEDIES VOLUME 1