Convinced that AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha can not afford to withdraw support now, as the government might suvive without her, Prime Minister Atal B ihari Vajpayee has begun an exercise for expanding his Union council of ministers.
However, owing to a large number of pressures in the ranks of allied groups like the Samata Party, and successive foreign trips by the Prime Minister and the President, it appears unlikely that an expansion could take place before the end of September.
An aide to the Prime Minister yesterday said too many portfolios would need to be reshuffled to accommodate the new ministers. Besides, there were other problems to be overcome. It might in fact suit the government to project the likelihood of an expansion without actually undertaking one.
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The aide revealed that the Telugu Desam Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Haryana Vikas Party were agreeable to join the government. While the HVP and Trinamool are part of the government's coordination committee, the TDP supports the coalition from the outside.
Telugu Desam MP Yerran Naidu met Vajpayee last evening. He claimed that it was a courtesy call but the aide indicated that it was about the expansion.
The aide ruled out any problems from the BJP and indicated that even Pramod Mahajan may not join. But Jawant Singh would. Others from the BJP might include UP BJP chief Rajnath Singh. However, too many Samata leaders want to become ministers - including former Bihar Chief Minister Abdul Ghafoor, Prabhunath Singh and Digvijay Singh.
The Prime Minister Office is confident that Jayalalitha would not withdraw support now, after several of her alliance partners have openly spoken in favour of continuing support to Vajpayee.
The most relieved about this are said to be the two AIADMK ministers, who would have to resign their plum posts had their leader withdrawn support. One of them at least has been visiting the homes of some BJP ministers to seek some sort of raproachement. The Prime Minsiter's aide said that Vajpayee would not disturb the AIADMK ministers.
The expansion may not in any case be possible for a few weeks. The Prime Minister is to leave for the NAM summit on August 29, a couple of days after Jaswant Singh returns from Washingrton. Vajpayee would return only on September 5. The next day, President K R Narayanan is going abroad and will return only on September 20. Vajpayee is to leave for New York on September 22 to attend the United Nations General Assembly.