New Delhi, Nov 8: With a day to go for the first recast of the NDA government, there were indications that railway minister Sadananda Gowda may be given a different assignment as part of the government's new thrust to catalyze the infrastructure sector.
Sources in BJP indicated that the change of leadership of the critical infrastructure ministry was under consideration in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anxiety to tone up functioning of the government's largest enterprise.
The plan to induct former Union minister Suresh Prabhu even as his party Shiv Sena plays hardball is part of the objective to boost the core sectors of the economy. Though Prabhu has already been tasked with responsibilities like being a 'sherpa' for G20 talks and also emerged as the top contender to head the new incarnation of the Planning Commission, he is, on paper, a paid-up member of Sena.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who was approached on Thursday to suggest two candidates for inclusion in the Modi ministry, has not got back yet. While the delay is being seen as his ploy to get BJP to give in to the demand for increasing Sena's representation in the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra, BJP sources hinted that the leadership may press ahead with its plan to bring in Prabhu regardless of what Thackeray might decide.
The concern over infrastructure also appears to have led the government to conclude that the telecommunications ministry, too, needs the attention of a full-scale minister. The portfolio is with Ravishankar Prasad who also looks after law and justice. It is not clear whether the concern will lead to Prasad being relieved of the telecom and IT ministry or, alternatively, give up law.
Pointers that rural development ministry, which is being looked after by transport minister Nitin Gadkari since Gopinath Munde's death, may also have a full-fledged minister ties in with the larger thrust to drive infrastructure.
Railways occupies a key place in the PM's plans. Both during and after the poll campaign, Modi has delineated his priorities for the public transporter by pushing for introduction of high-speed 'bullet trains', modernization of infrastructure and upgrade of facilities, in addition to putting trains at the centre of an ambitious plan to boost tourism, including religious tourism, and foraying into unchartered terrain in the Himalayas.
With Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, who announced on Friday that he would become a member of the Rajya Sabha from UP, set to join the Centre, the BJP leadership is having to deal with claims of CM aspirants in the state.
Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar remains the frontrunner. The BJP parliamentary board will meet here on Saturday to decide Parrikar's successor.
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