Munda's Navratna: Picture by Mukesh Bhatt




Nine Ministers take oath

October 9, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI


After putting Cabinet expansion exercise in abeyance for nearly one month, Chief Minister Arjun Munda claimed his Cabinet is the combination of fresh flair, innovation and talent after nine MLAs took oath as minister of the coalition Government on Friday.

Munda made last-minute contentious changes in the proposed list of the Minister from the BJP on Thursday night leaving many baffled while some took an understanding view of the choices made — political, personal or otherwise.

"It is a composite and balanced team representing cross section of society. They will do something innovative for the betterment of Jharkhand," Munda said after the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhawan.

To give a different look of the ministry, not to be seen as a carryover of the Shibu Soren-led JMM-BJP-AJSU-JD(U) coalition Government, he pulled on board four new faces — Satyanand Jha Batul and Bimla Pradhan (BJP), Raja Peter (JD-U) and Champai Soren (JMM). He jettisoned four others — Raghuwar Das and Nilkanth Singh Munda (BJP), Sudha Chaudhary (JD-U) and Umakant Rajak (AJSU), who were ministers in the Soren Government. Rest of the old faces — Hemlal Murmu, Hazi Hussain Ansari and Mathura Mahato (all from JMM) and Chandra Prakash Chaudhary of the AJSU and Baidyanath Ram — have been retained.

Das' close aides claimed that he was unwilling to join Munda's Cabinet as subordinate but in the light of trickiest scheme of regional balancing act and his soared relationship with Munda; his induction in the ministry was declared beforehand quite unlikely.

Das, who enjoyed number two positions in the Soren Government as deputy Chief Minister, had no podium moment today, but he was talk of the political circle. He was among those important absentee who did not attend oath-taking ceremony along with Nilkanth Singh, Teklal Mahato, Simon Marandi and Lobin Hembrum of the JMM, Sudha and Kamal Kishore Bhagat of the AJSU. Discreetly they aired their grudge over Cabinet expansion as today's exercise left many fumed and exasperated.

"It is yes-man selection by Deputy CM Hemant. Seniors have been neglected," Simon said predicting gloomy days ahead for the Government. Teklal spew less venom but he is ready to bite whenever situation arises.

In the AJSU, the dissidence broke even before the official announcement and reached to the public square on Thursday evening. Supporters of Adivashi Kalyan Parishad protested AJSU chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Kumar Mahto for ignoring Bhagat. They termed him a practitioner of dynastic politics. The entry of Chandra Prakash in the ministry —his close relative, was protested so stoutly that a sulked Sudesh even did not talk to the media at Raj Bhawan as to how he feels about the balanced and composite cabinet.

Munda kept everybody guessing. Around 8pm on Thursday night, party MLA from Santhal Pargana division Arun Mandal was sure to be taken in the ministry. The name of Nilkanth Singh, party sources claimed, was almost agreed to represent Chhotanagpur division.

Munda sprang the last-minute surprise that night and replaced Mandal with Batul, who belongs to Santhal Pargana division, and Nilkanth with Pradhan from Chhotanagpur division. Jha had not dreamt so much of kindness from Munda.

Munda left Mandal star struck on late Thursday night when he told Mandal, 'Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain. Abhi politics me imtehan aur bhi hain.'

Munda displayed 'hitting three birds with single' stone' act. He was not keen to retain Nilkanth and Sudha in the ministry. He wanted Peter, who is close to him. By bringing Pradhan in the ministry, he calmed the clamour for woman's representation insuring Chhotanagpur division is not left out.

Munda's ministers have yet to revel fresh flair; the day proved Munda is more innovative and talented in team selection exercise.