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DAVINDER KUMAR & VINAY MENON
NEW DELHI, OCT 12: The journey to the seat of power is not a bed of roses. So Ram Vilas Paswan has a reason to have tonnes of it. Lily, roses and even traditional marigolds. No matter three days old, bouquets are decorated as precious trophies of war on the swing in Paswan's drawing room.
But flowers and the fragrance at Paswan's house were just part of what translated the mood of alliance partners on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance government on Tuesday. At the houses of party leaders and the various State bhavans in the Capital, MPs, both veterans and newcomers, are waiting. The final list of ministers was yet to be out.
Paswan was busy throughout the day receiving and seeing off prominent leaders of the party. The stalwarts included the likes of George Fernandes, Ramakrishna Hegde and Sharad Yadav who closeted themselves in Paswan's house at 12 Janpath Road `to discuss general things' over a especially organised lunch.
`Fernandesji is our leader.He is the one who will speak about the power-sharing and not any one of us,' was the refrain of Paswan and other party leaders. However, as a buoyant Paswan grinned most of the time interacting with media, George Fernandes spoke every word with caution. `We are not speaking anything. In last one year, we have learned a bit,' he replied to a question on ministerial berths. Asked if his party had any preferences, Sharad Yadav told The Indian Express: `Aap woh puch rahe hain, jo koi bol hi nahin sakta (You are asking something which cannot be answered).'
The scene at DMK leader Murasoli Maran's house was different. Outdoing the media, south Indian industrial barons thronged Maran's office with their complimentary bouquets.
Amidst media queries and visits by party leaders and corporate bigwigs, the DMK leader did not let his hands off the book Mastering the Digital Market Place by Doughlas Aldrich. Maran said: `This time the Prime Minister has a problem of plenty. Plenty of parties,members and talents. So I cannot say anything.'
But the newcomers were more forthcoming. `We have come in full strength to unanimously elect Vajpyeeji as our leader in Parliament. If in the process we are noticed for our capabilities then we would not shirk from the responsibility,' said DMK's A D K Jeyaseelan in his well-furnished room at Tamil Nadu Bhavan.
And what would these capabilities mean by way of specific ministries?
Jeyeseelan is at his suggestive best. `I am a doctorate in economics and have served as principal of a college.' This, he believes, is an integral accretion that would serve him well if he were considered for a berth.
`No demands are being made and we have an open mind towards any ministry, even Finance and Petroleum,' said Jeyeseelan. He added quickly: `But this again will entirely depend on our high commands wishes.'
At Orissa Bhavan, the choices are intelligently fenced around the `development of the state.' Dismissing the reported lobbying by the Trinamool Congressfor the Railway and Surface transport ministry, BJD MP from Jagatsinghpur Trilocharan Kanungo said: `Our focus is on important socio-economically sensitive issues.' Asked to elaborate, he said: `The Paradip port is very a important project along with road development.'
Does that mean they would want the Surface Transport? `Let's not be so specific. It is the Prime Minister's prerogative and everything is left to him.'
Andhra Bhavan which at present houses eight BJP MPs, seven of whom romped home victorious this election, presents a similar picture. `If a boy who has no inclination for marriage is asked if he was never going to marry a girl, then it would be difficult for him to answer,' said a jovial S Satyanarayan Rao. If you haven't guessed yet, he was replying to a question on Cabinet hopes.
Trinamool Congress office at MPs hostel on Baba Kharak Singh Marg wore a rather deserted look as most of the party MPs were not present in their rooms. `Madam Mamata Banerjee and Ajit Panja are activelyparticipating in the deliberations over the share of party in the 13th Cabinet,' said a party worker.
At Orissa Bhavan, party MPs who until yesterday were enjoying their siesta in the comforts of their rooms, were disappearing. `The leaders are not here. Navin Patnaikji has gone to the Prime Minister's office,' said one official.
Making up for lacklustre scene at Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal offices, was Bihar Bhavan where the galaxy of JD (U) men ranging from village-level `Mantris' to leaders of national stature had been camping for the past one week. Some were humming the tunes of local folk songs to their cronies. It was all fanfare.
At Room No. 101, Raghunath Jha, a first-timer from Janata Dal (United), was enjoying his afternoon siesta. Jha, like his southern counterparts preferred to fiddle with the ambiguous when it comes to cabinet berth. `There are no specific chances,' he said. `There would not be any need to be lobbying for anybody -- not even for George Fernandes for hissecond term as Defence minister.' After seeing the visitors off, Jha went back to sleep.
What lies ahead is perhaps a sleepless night. `Today whole night our leaders will be busy discussing power-sharing. They can take some rest only when they become Ministers,' said a Paswan loyalist.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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