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The Rediff Interview/Giridhar Gamang

'We must be disciplined soldiers'

F iftyseven year old Giridhar Gamang finally formed his 26-member ministry on Monday, ending all speculation. Twelve ministers from the previous Patnaik ministry were dropped and nine new faces inducted. Bibhuti Mishra spoke to the new chief minister soon after ministry formation. An excerpt from the interview:

Forming this ministry must have been a tightrope walk for you. How did you manage this balancing act by giving representation to both the rival camps and yet clipping their wings in a way?

I don't know about any camp -- the Congress is one big unit without any factions so far as I am concerned. The ministry was cleared by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. I have not pleaded for or against anyone. But it was ensured that women, Scheduled Castes, tribes and other backward classes got adequate representation, rather than giving district-wise representation.

But the ministers who were dropped must be sore. On what grounds were they dropped?

Let me repeat, they were not dropped. The high command took a decision on the formation of ministry keeping in view the requirements of the time. So I don't think anyone has to be upset about anything. We are not here to become ministers, we are here to serve people in the manner assigned by the high command. Even I was not hankering after the CM's post. But once the high command gave me the responsibility I would carry it out to the best of my ability.

But Habibulla Khan, the panchayati raj minister in the Patnaik ministry has written a letter to the Congress president asking for explanation as to why he was dropped...

I am not aware of any such letter. But my view is that since it is not a reflection on anybody's efficiency or image, there should not be any hue and cry over a post. We must be disciplined soldiers.

What about the PIL in the high court that had sought the court to debar ministers who have charges against them?

It shows how sensitive people are to the government. Let there be a petition and let the court give its ruling. No point reacting to something that is not there.

What would be your priority?

I don't believe in promises. I consider myself a common citizen. So I shall try to solve common problems, attend to the problems of tribals, backward classes. And women. It should be an atmosphere of peace and prosperity for Orissa.

The Rediff Interviews

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