Modi tries to temper high hopes

New Delhi, May 18: Narendra Modi has set cabinet-formation talks in motion amid a general indication that veterans should not get too high on hope and that a few heavyweights may be held back for party work.

Modi dropped a clear hint for ministerial hopefuls this morning when a group of newly elected MPs from Karnataka called on him at Gujarat Bhavan.

The visitors included South Bangalore MP Ananth Kumar, who was the urban development minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

A source said that Modi reminded them the BJP organisation was at least as important as the government, if not more, implying that every heavyweight should not expect a cabinet berth.

He apparently added that the Modi hawa (Modi wave) could peter out in three months or so, therefore it was important to keep the party on its toes constantly.

One indication that party sources have received so far is that Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar could be moved to Delhi and given charge of a critical ministry. Such a move would be of a piece with Modis maxim that running a state is as difficult and complex as overseeing the Centre.

Parrikar, serving a second term in Goa, is credited with coalescing the Christian and Muslims votes for the BJP in the 2012 Assembly elections by repairing the partys image among the minorities.

He had promptly cracked down on the Karnataka-based vigilante outfit, Sri Rama Sene, when its chief Pramod Muthalik tried to set up base in Goa.

BJP sources, however, said a good replacement would have to be found if Parrikar was to relocate. Besides, in dissidence-prone Goa, Parrikar had managed to stave off intra-party conflicts.

It now seems more and more unlikely that veterans L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi would find a place in the government, even outside of the cabinet.

More here:
Modi tries to temper high hopes