Cabinet allocation yet to be decided, clarifies BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party today emphasised
that no names have been finalised for the proposed Cabinet of the
BJP-led coalition government.
Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh dismissed press reports to
this effect as baseless, saying, ''There is no truth in the
reports'', as the formation of the Cabinet is the exclusive
prerogative of the prime minister.
Singh was talking to UNI after a two-hour meeting of the BJP
and its allies on formation of the national agenda for good
governance.
He was objecting to the publication of reports indicating that
L K Advani and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi have emerged as front-runners for the
home and finance portfolios respectively. Other reports suggested
that party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj and Malikarjuniah along
with Ram Naik were being considered for the speaker's post.
Singh said Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani held talks on
government formation with the BJP's allies. The AIADMK
and Trinamul Congress have already stated that they would extend
outside support to the BJP led-coalition government at the Centre.
Other allies like the Akali Dal and Biju Janata Dal have
evinced interest in joining the ministry. It was reported that the
Akali Dal wanted three ministerial berths in the Cabinet.
Lok Shakti leaders have so far not expressed their views on the
matter.
UNI
Elections '98
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