Who will be Obama's minister-in-waiting?

Who will be the minister-in-waiting for the visit of US President Barack Obama when visits India in November? The issue has not been clinched so far, with sources in the government disclosing that the name of the minister-in-waiting is conveyed to the visitors by the host country just two days before the arrival of the head of the state.

Some reports claimed that the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma is lobbying for the job. An English daily has done a front page story detailing Sharma's virtues as minister and his enormous experience in foreign affairs. The publication states that Sharma is the best man to accompany the US President during his India visit. The article goes on to say that there is no one except Sharma can handle this 'sensitive assignment.' Sharma was elevated to cabinet rank when the United Progressive Alliance returned to power.

PMO sources say that in the event of a high profile visit, it is customary to nominate a cabinet minister as the minister-in-waiting for the visiting head of state to signal that the host country attaches a great deal of significance to the visit and protocol in many areas requires it to be a cabinet minister. At the same time it is also established convention that the minister-in-waiting should not be too senior, which roughly translates a tool to keep out the top four ministers out of the list, effectively ruling out the

home, finance, defence and foreign affairs ministers. It is also necessary that the minister should be experienced in international affairs as a great deal of time is spent with the visiting dignitary, beginning from receiving him or her at the airport.

Kapil Sibal, known to be both articulate and balanced has been the minister-in-waiting to three of the most significant visitors India has received during the UPA's tenure. He was minister-in-waiting to Chinese Premier Hu Jintao, French president Jacques Chirac and US President George W Bush. Known to enjoy the prime minister's confidence and with a great deal of experience in matters of international relations, Sibal had been handpicked by the PM, say sources.

In a likely shortlist of who could make the cut, Kamal Nath's name is also in the reckoning since he also has a great deal of experience in foreign affairs, international trade and is known to be a high flying minister. But whether the prime minister would opt for him is unknown since he does not enjoy the PM's confidence inthe same manner as Sibal.

The suave and sophisticated Salman Khurshid can also make the cut, say sources though he is not a cabinet minister but a minister of state with independent charge.

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