Delay in allocation of portfolios to 10 ministers sparks speculation
ON THE JOB The ministers are focusing on party work in their areas for now
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has not allocated portfolios to 10 ministers even five days after they were sworn in at Raj Bhawan here on September 26.
The non-allocation of portfolios has led to speculation on the reasons for the delay. The possible reasons may range from the chief minister’s perceived reluctance to allocate important departments to controversial ministers to his being extra cautious in a bid to avoid a controversy this time.
The chief minister’s decision to dismiss two ministers Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Raj Kishore Singh — on September 12 contributed to political developments that sparked a feud in the Samajwadi Party’s first family. Both the dismissed ministers had faced charges of corruption. Although a five-day delay in allocation of portfolios is not unusual as the chief minister has taken about a week or more to do the job even in the past, the recent feud has set tongues wagging.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had announced the re-induction of Prajapati as a compromise formula and the chief minister complied with his father’s wish.
However, he appears to be in no mood to give Prajapati the mining portfolio in view of serious irregularities reported from the department during his tenure as the minister, sources say.
There is also speculation about serious differences between the SP’s top leadership and the chief minister over the allocation of departments to some other ministers as well.
A senior officer, however, denied this possibility and said the portfolios would be allocated in the next few days.
With the 2017 assembly election just months away, the ministers without portfolios are finding this an opportune time to work for the party in their respective areas.
“I am not bothered about the portfolios. I am grateful to the party leadership for giving the honour back to me. I am in Sitapur and working for the party,” said Manoj Kumar Pandey who was re-inducted as a cabinet minister on Monday. Ziauddin Rizvi said he was also focusing on his constituency.
Abhishek Mishra, who was elevated from the position of minister of state to cabinet rank, will attend a meeting of the GST Council in New Delhi on Saturday.
“I am busy with work of my constituency. I am in New Delhi now to attend the GST council meeting,” said Mishra.
Ravidas Mehrotra, who too had been elevated to cabinet rank for his good performance, has been busy holding meetings with the officers of different departments to ensure the benefits of the state government’s schemes reach the people.