Keeping in mind performance as well as Rahul Gandhi's all-important mission UP, government may see some members promoted and others cut down to size, reports Renu Mittal.
With Parliament functioning returning to normal after opposition parties accepting the government's decision to suspend FDI in retail till it can evolve a consensus after consulting various stakeholders, the focus is now on the allies and the functioning of the government.
Sources say that key ally Mamata Banerjee, who has registered a great deal of clout after forcing the government to hold back FDI and has won herself a formidable reputation in terms of dictating to the Manmohan Singh government on key policy issues, now wants another Cabinet minister in the government.
Reportedly, she is said to have zeroed in on Subrata Bakshi who has just become an MP after winning from Mamata Banerjee's south Kolkatta seat with a bigger margin than Mamata had won. Bakshi, enjoys Mamata's confidence and is tipped to get a Cabinet berth in the government as and when there are inductions or even a reshuffle.
Apart from Trinamool, the issue of Ajit Singh has yet to be resolved. Sources in the know of developments in Uttar Pradesh say that the alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh is likely to go through as Rahul Gandhi is very keen on it. The issue of portfolios is one of the sticking points, but sources say that it will also be sorted out. With the countdown for the UP elections having begun, sources said that Ajit Singh's induction would be sooner rather than later, as he would want some time to leverage his ministership before the actual polls.
Apart from this, Chiranjeevi from Andhra Pradesh, who merged his party Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress, is also likely to be given a berth in the government, as was promised to him initially. This will also happen along with the other inductions.
With the prime minister going on a 3-day visit to Moscow from December 15, sources say that the changes in the cabinet could be after December 22 when the winter session of Parliament ends.
There is also a buzz in the government and party that some people are likely to be promoted and some others cut down to size, keeping in mind their performance as well as Rahul Gandhi's all-important mission UP.
Along with this, the fate of Home Minister P Chidambaram also hangs in the balance with the Supreme Court hearing the case on Thursday and the Madras high court completing hearing the election petition against him.
Sources say that the Congress president wants the government to wear a fresh face and look like it means business, particularly after the huge embarrassment it has faced over the FDI in retail issue.
The allies are now asking for a formal and structured mechanism by which proposed decisions can be discussed and alliance parties can give their views freely before they become public property. Such a mechanism existed in United Progressive Alliance-I with the left parties, but emboldened after getting 207 seats in UPA 2, the Congress leadership decided to do away with any such consultation process with the core committee acting as the supreme arbitrator on all decision making.
The next problem area facing the government is the Lokpal bill with the standing committee finalising its report and a number of MPs giving dissent notes, among which are 3 Congress MPs including Meenakshi Natrajan, who works closely with Rahul Gandhi. The report would be placed in Parliament on Friday after which the Cabinet would draft the bill. As of now, it is to come up in Parliament on December 19. The winter session breaks on December 22, giving the government a small window of opportunity with which to make it a law.
The government continues to be loaded with problems with social activist Anna Hazare threatening to go on fast again. In the mood of gloom and lack of cheer, Sonia Gandhi has decided not to celebrate her birthday on December 9 and has asked Congressmen to stay away from 10 Janpath.
