As already stated in these columns, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi could easily have taken the view that this was not the opportune time for the kind of “expansive” reshuffle the prime minister had promised earlier this year (“Reconstitute, not reshuffle”, July 12). Moreover, given the inability to meet the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s demands, the exercise had to appear tentative. Judged against the expectation of a major shake-up aimed at lifting the sagging image of the government, the exercise undertaken on Tuesday would be regarded as disappointing. It does not fundamentally alter the current image of the government. On the contrary, it gives the impression that the ruling coalition is paralysed and either unable or unwilling to undertake fundamental reform. Replacing Murli Deora with his son Milind Deora is not exactly the kind of reconstitution that many would have had in mind while expecting a revival of the UPA government’s fortunes. A veteran Congress party leader like Kishore Chandra Deo is a good addition to the team and deserved the Cabinet rank but his induction does not address the complaint of Telangana’s backward classes about their under-representation in both Hyderabad and New Delhi.
However, if the reshuffle is judged as a routine political exercise that every prime minister is entitled to undertake from time to time, this Tuesday’s exercise has much merit. It does empower some of the performers and punishes some of the non-performers. It fills certain obvious gaps, in terms of regional and other social representation. This team can take the government forward. As the new rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh can be expected to ensure that his ministry spends its annual budget of Rs 74,100 crore more effectively and in a more electorally rewarding manner. The new environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan, enjoys a good rapport with the prime minister and the Congress president, so she can be expected to steer clear of avoidable controversies. The prime minister cannot afford to leave ministries of human resources development (HRD) and telecommunications in charge of one man, however energetic and intelligent he may be. The HRD ministry desperately needs reform and revitalisation, and deserves a full-time minister. These marginal benefits will help the prime minister run the government more effectively. However, it remains unclear whether they will alter the government’s image, especially among the sullen middle classes.
However, this is clearly not the team with which the UPA can afford to decisively reverse the recent tide of public criticism, much less return to the hustings in 2014. To ensure that, Ms Gandhi and Dr Singh will need a major overhaul of their teams, something that neither is willing to risk at the moment. Perhaps they do not feel the pressure to do much. As long as the Opposition remains weak and in disarray, any real political pressure for change is not forthcoming. Therefore, the ruling coalition will be ready for change only around the next election, or when the Congress party’s first family has an exit strategy in place for the “big five” of Raisina Hill. Between now and then, Dr Singh can tweak his team with minor reshuffles.