Taking a cue from the Rahul Gandhi episode, senior Congress leaders
such as Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr Salman Khurshid have called for a
larger remit in the government for Mr Manmohan Singh as well. In recent
weeks, these leaders had been clamouring for greater involvement of Mr
Rahul Gandhi in the party and the government. Mr Gandhi conceded their
demands by signalling at long last that he was ready for a more
“proactive role”. Satisfied that their demands were finally going to be
met, several leaders in the government and the party have now started
campaigning for a meaningful role for Mr Singh.
Jest Kidding spoke to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, widely believed to be the person who can help Mr Singh come into his own. When asked about the possibility of Mr Singh becoming more central to delivering good governance, she said: “It is for Mr Singh to decide. He alone can take a decision on this.” This surprised all those who had been thinking all the while that Mrs Gandhi was the biggest impediment in the way of Mr Singh playing a more prominent role in the government.
Mr Manmohan Singh later confirmed to Jest Kidding that he was indeed willing to expand his remit. “I will play a more proactive role in the government. The decision has been taken, the timing is up to my boss ~ the Congress president,” he said. Mr Singh’s decision has made the members of the ruling coalition very happy and several leaders welcomed it. DMK chief Mr M Karunanidhi said: “We need young leaders like Mr Manmohan Singh to do more to promote good governance. I welcome his decision wholeheartedly.”
A Congress functionary who did not wish to be named said Mr Singh would do a good job because he had learnt the ropes in his capacity as no.2 in the government for the past eight years. He also felt that it had not been appropriate for Mr Sharad Pawar to have asked for the no.2 slot a few days ago when Mr Singh was already occupying it. “It was not right the right thing to do. That was downright disrespectful,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said Mr Singh’s proactiveness had come a little late. “The UPA came to power in 2004. It is ridiculous that Mr Singh has decided to play a more proactive role after eight years in the saddle. Now, it is too late,” said BJP president Mr Nitin Gadkari. Ms Renuka Chowdhary of the Congress hit back in her usual aggressive style: “Better late than never. We do not need to seek the BJP’s approval. We at least know who our No.1 is. Can the BJP say the same for itself?”
Link: http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=417803&catid=39
Jest Kidding spoke to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, widely believed to be the person who can help Mr Singh come into his own. When asked about the possibility of Mr Singh becoming more central to delivering good governance, she said: “It is for Mr Singh to decide. He alone can take a decision on this.” This surprised all those who had been thinking all the while that Mrs Gandhi was the biggest impediment in the way of Mr Singh playing a more prominent role in the government.
Mr Manmohan Singh later confirmed to Jest Kidding that he was indeed willing to expand his remit. “I will play a more proactive role in the government. The decision has been taken, the timing is up to my boss ~ the Congress president,” he said. Mr Singh’s decision has made the members of the ruling coalition very happy and several leaders welcomed it. DMK chief Mr M Karunanidhi said: “We need young leaders like Mr Manmohan Singh to do more to promote good governance. I welcome his decision wholeheartedly.”
A Congress functionary who did not wish to be named said Mr Singh would do a good job because he had learnt the ropes in his capacity as no.2 in the government for the past eight years. He also felt that it had not been appropriate for Mr Sharad Pawar to have asked for the no.2 slot a few days ago when Mr Singh was already occupying it. “It was not right the right thing to do. That was downright disrespectful,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said Mr Singh’s proactiveness had come a little late. “The UPA came to power in 2004. It is ridiculous that Mr Singh has decided to play a more proactive role after eight years in the saddle. Now, it is too late,” said BJP president Mr Nitin Gadkari. Ms Renuka Chowdhary of the Congress hit back in her usual aggressive style: “Better late than never. We do not need to seek the BJP’s approval. We at least know who our No.1 is. Can the BJP say the same for itself?”
Link: http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=417803&catid=39
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