Manmohan Singh has now inducted a total of 78 ministers in his team, 12 days after the election results were announced, thus the formation of the Central Union Ministry was finally completed. This was an ardous task and by no means an easy task in a country of this magnitude and compl;exities. There is no such comparable instance in any other part of the world.
The oath taking ceremony of the new ministers was held in India’s Presidential palace called Rashtrapati Bhawan on Thursday. In totality there are 33 cabinet ministers, 38 ministers of state (MoS) and seven MoS who are likely to be given independent charge of their respective portfolios.
Numerous factors were to be taken into consideration in choosing the cabinet, as well as, ministers of state berths. Frstly there are 28 states and seven union territories in India. Suitable representation has to be given selectively to all states and the union territories also. Secondly, the caste and religion factor also needed to be taken into consideration. Thirdly the allies of the Ruling Party have also to be satisfied by allotting berths to them. This was by no means a task of simple arithmetic.
Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, Congress party President as well as Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister have literally burnt midnight oil, held several marathon sessions and thus were able to announce the list of Ministers.They have never tried to delay this important issue as has been alleged by their critics..
The critics, who are mainly from the television news channels as well as newspapers had averred that formation of the council of Ministers had been deliberately delayed and cited infighting as one of the reasons. They are only trying to earn brownie power. It must also be remembered that they are totally oblivious of the facts stated above.
Happily, the Prime Minister has also inducted some young blood into his Council of ministers .They are Jitin Prasada, RPN Singh, Jyotiaditya Scindia. They are all Doscos, students of India’s most famous Doon School – including Mr Kamal Nath who is also it’s ex student. The only other Doon School boy elected to the Lok Sabha and not included in the Council is Rahul Gandhi. He had undertaken the organizational duties of the Congress party. Manmohan Singh has, thus, been able to create a unique blend of experience and youth,i.e. the experienced elders coupled with educated and intelligent youngsters.
There are 59 women MPs elected and out of which only 9 are in the new cabinet.
One must not undermine the magnitude of this task that faced Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi ; they have indeed done a splendid job.
Ravi Matah