After the resounding victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress Party has geared up to decide on its Cabinet portfolios. Speculations are ride in the political circle that Planning Commission Dy. Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will be the next Finance Minister of the India. He is reportedly the first choice of PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi may be convinced to accept a cabinet berth.The Congress Party won't have any difficulties to choose the Cabinet this time, as it has fewer allies and has 206 MPs on its own. Although RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav are desperate to join the UPA government, many in the Congress are not so keen to include these parties.
Most Congress leaders want to teach a lesson to Lalu and Mulayam for this "betrayal" to the Congress during the elections. Even if the RJD joins the UPA Government, Lalu Yadav may have a tough time to get the Railway Ministry, as TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee is reportedly keen on this portfolio.
Pranab Mukherjee (MEA), P Chidambaram (Home) and AK Antony (Defence) may retain their portfolios, as they have done a tremendous job so far. Congress is all set to include Murli Deora, Veerappa Moily, Vyalar Ravi, Salman Khurshid, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kamal Nath, SM Krishna, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, Bhakta Charan Das and Kapil Sibal in the Cabinet.
From the allies, Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Mamata Banerjee, Dayanidhi Maran, HD Kumaraswamy and MK Azhagiri may also get the nod for Cabinet portfolios. JMM Chief Shibu Soren may also demand a cabinet berth.
Rahul Gandhi has also expressed his desire to include many youth faces to the Union Cabinet this time. Most of them may work as MoS. Prominent among the youth candidates, who may get a nod, are Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, Milind Deora, Sandip Dikshit, Navin Jindal, Manish Tiwary, and Kanimozhi.
The Congress will also include several Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Women, Tribals, Dalits and OBCs in the Cabinet to maintain a proper balance and send out right messages to each community. The Congress Core Committee has begun hectic consultations over the issue of government formation and portfolios distribution.
According to sources, DMK and TMC may get at least 5 cabinet berths, while the NCP may get 3. Other allies of the Congress may get 3-4 berths, while the rest will be kept with the party.
The Congress, which won 262 seats along with its allies, has already roped in JD(S), AUDF (Assam) two Congress rebel MPs and a few other independents and smaller parties. The party reportedly crossed the magic figure 273. Ajit Singh's RLD has reportedly made up his mind to dump the NDA and join the UPA government. The Congress may also take the support of Lalu Yadav's RJD, if required. But it seems unlikely at this moment.
