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Sharad Yadav may lose civil aviation

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav's decision to change the route of Indian Airline's Delhi-Lucknow-Patna-Ranchi-Calcutta flight to appease some friends is likely to cost him is job.

Sources close to the Prime Minister's Office said Yadav's portfolio is likely to be changed in the Cabinet reshuffle due for tomorrow.

Following requests from some fellow MPs from Bihar, Yadav made Patna the first stop for the flight. The change was resented by people flying to Lucknow and some of them shot off angry letters to the PMO.

And as if this was not enough, another indiscretion on the part of the minister was recently brought to the notice of the prime minister. Apparently, an Indian Airlines aircraft carrying Yadav's family and some Bihar politicians was forced to take off from Lucknow despite the aircraft being declared unsafe.

On May 21 Flight CD-7411 (Delhi-Lucknow-Patna-Calcutta) landed at Lucknow after one of the front wheels of the Airbus 320 got deflated. A special aircraft with a spare tyre from Delhi was flown in and the Airbus 320 took off shortly after. The plane eventually landed at Patna at great risk to the passengers' lives because the brakes were not functioning properly.

Although Yadav later denied the incident, the matter was reported to the prime minister, who was "pained" by the irresponsible behaviour of the minister.

Meanwhile, sources said some Telugu Desam Party members met the prime minister recently to discuss the Cabinet reshuffle. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu yesterday indicated that his party would soon let its decision about joining the government known.

So far, the TDP has been supporting the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre from outside.

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