National

Cogs In Motion

Sonia's imprint is writ large, but the PM won't mind this castling—two rooks in the right corners

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Cogs In Motion
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T
Lage Raho Munnabhai
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Antony too suits the PM. The leader from Kerala helps to reinforce his own Mr Clean image (and therefore of the government). The induction may even have a "neutralising" effect. Say sources, "The PM is a Chanakya in his own quiet fashion. Antony may be circumspect in public, but in the Congress Working Committee, he used to be vocal on issues ranging from a minimum support price in agriculture to India's position on Iran. Antony will now be part of the decision-making process in government."

As for the man himself, a key party functionary notes cryptically, "whether he'll perform or not is not known (Antony has a poor reputation as administrator despite being a three-time Kerala CM) but no one will be able to raise a finger at him...he is squeaky clean. It's important in a ministry under constant scrutiny." Antony himself is aware of his "mandate". Asked how he'd deal with defence purchases being constantly under the scanner, he told Outlook: "Well, I believe in transparent democracy. Besides, the Right to Information Act has brought in sweeping changes."

Now, while Antony hasn't stopped smiling from the moment he entered the Ashoka Hall on October 24, Pranab was a study in contrast. He timed his entrance a couple of minutes after Sonia, and marched to his front row seat without giving her a glance. At the tea after the swearing-in, a clearly confident Sonia Gandhi was careful to be at his elbow to ensure the hostility was less visible. So why is Pranab so upset? Apparently, he had expressed a preference for staying on in defence or moving to the home ministry. Then why did Sonia and Manmohan insist on this move? Especially when Pranab's is the "voice of authority", both in the Union cabinet and CWC.

Sources close to him say he "officially" told the leadership he was too old to undertake the hectic schedule the foreign ministry demands. But his real reason was that he fears the post will undermine his position as the clear No. 2. Ministry obligations will leave him less time for the 30-odd GoMs he heads: and the fact that he and the PM may often be required to travel abroad together would lessen opportunities to chair cabinet meetings in the latter's absence.

Government sources say that what made up Sonia's mind was the whisper campaign that Pranab would be willing to take on the job, provided a deputy PM tag was thrown in. But this was scotched firmly by Sonia at the CM's conclave in Nainital last month. In answer to a question put to the PM on the subject, she grabbed the mike and ruled out such a possibility. A Congress minister said, "The first time the possibility of Pranab becomingDPM was aired in the press late in '04, he himself had scotched the rumours. This time, he kept quiet."

Sources list another pressing reason for Pranab being replaced: in the coming months, the defence ministry will be negotiating the single largest arms deal in the world, for 126 multi-role combat aircraft, at a cost estimated at $6.5 billion. The contenders include the American F-16 and F-18, the French Rafael, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripin fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the RussianMiG 35. There are also other purchases planned including the long overdue artillery modernisation plan, billed at Rs 10,000 crore over 20 years. "If these are to go through without criticism of payoffs, the Congress needs someone like Saint Antony in place," said a ministry source.

So how will Paranab deal with his disappointment? Sources say "he is neither a dissident nor has he had time to build a ginger group. But it's clear that he will be no pushover...." They point to the statement he made the day he took over. He stressed that a country's foreign policy was the extension of its national interest and that keeping that in view, foreign policy would aim at helping to achieve growth targets of 9-10 per cent. He added that for this the country required investment as well as peace and tranquility "in our periphery" and other parts of the world. Clearly, his message was that he intended to play a bigger role than that of a mere foreign minister—and that he remains No. 2 in government.

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