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From the outside, government buildings ranging from North Block to South Block, Shastri Bhavan and Krishi Bhavan are wearing a holiday look. Security is somewhat easy and the movement of cars with beacon lights has clearly slowed in Lutyens’ Delhi.
But once inside, it’s tough to miss the air of change. “I have seen many elections. But this time, one is not in doubt the current dispensation will change,” an official said about the mood within his ministry. Even as the Cabinet under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) met for the last time on Tuesday, bureaucrats are readying for the new government.
Petroleum Secretary Saurabh Chandra, however, joked the match wasn’t over till the last ball was bowled, referring to the exit polls that have predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance will replace the UPA. “We are preparing for decisions that could not be taken in the last few months,” he said, adding the subsidy burden, which had hit the profits of oil marketing companies, must be reduced. That’s on top of the agenda his ministry has prepared for its new chief.
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Ministers have hardly had any role in making presentations for the next government. Distancing themselves from the goings on, most ministers were winding up, an official said.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, however, is an exception, carrying on as if it’s business as usual. In his last week in office, he is holding review meetings with bank chiefs and heads of insurance companies and financial sector regulators. One of his colleagues, however, said these meetings were more in the nature of farewells to Chidambaram. But this isn’t stopping the FM from pulling up ministry officials and bankers at these meetings!
There is buzz if the BJP’s Narendra Modi becomes prime minister, the number of groups of ministers and empowered groups of ministers will be cut. Also, there’s talk of the merger of some ministries to make the government more compact. Officials are also talking of likely better ties between the Centre and states, as Modi, a chief minister, knows the issues of states well.
There are days to go till the current government makes way for the next. Before that, Sharad Pawar, who’s been attending to urgent files outside the Delhi office during his election campaign, is slated to chair a meeting of officials and meet the press (on Thursday). Veerappa Moily, petroleum and environment minister, has been dividing his time equally between his two ministries.
Food Minister K V Thomas had told officials not to clear any pending files after May 7, to ensure no last-minute decisions are taken.
While Thomas has planned a small get-together for his staff on Thursday, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi will host a farewell for PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday. Last week, Minister of State for Planning Rajeev Shukla organised a farewell dinner for members and advisors of the Planning Commission, as well as their families.
On the current mood within the government, Sudhir Krishna, urban development secretary, told Business Standard, “A change of government at the Centre has happened in the past. The same situation prevails now.”
As is the case with others, the commerce ministry, too, is busy preparing lists and plans for the next government. A new foreign trade policy is the first job at hand, as the current one expires this month. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is gearing up for foreign direct investment-related issues, including in the e-commerce, real estate and railways segments. It is also readying to float discussion papers on royalties. The hard work here is somewhat prompted by buzz Anand Sharma will be succeeded at this ministry by either Subramanian Swamy or Arun Jaitley, both hard taskmasters.
The external affairs ministry, it appears, has been the quietest, if one doesn’t take into account the recent postings of new ambassadors/high commissioners to at least 10 destinations. Sanchar Bhavan, which houses the telecom ministry, also appears to be a picture of calm. Even as shredders are working overtime, filling the dump yards in government offices, the Central Vista road, leading to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Rashtrapati Bhavan, is getting a fresh coat of paint, perhaps to herald a new tomorrow.
(With inputs from Nayanima Basu and Jyoti Mukul)
