New Delhi: Anticipating the formation of a Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, a race has begun among some of the top BJP leaders, including Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, for the number two slot.
BJP president Rajnath Singh, who, besides Mr Modi, will be credited if the party comes to power, is also likely to handle a key portfolio. The party is already abuzz with talks about the possible number two in the future Modi government, with a section believing that whoever becomes the home minister would be positioned as one of the most powerful people in the Cabinet.
“Our government will not be like the UPA in which both the Prime Minister and the home minister were nominees of the Congress president and played a subservient role.”
Sharing the thinking, leaders in the party were heard saying that the race for the second topmost post in the future government would be among Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who is trying his electoral luck for the first time from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in Punjab. Mr Jaitley is eyeing the finance ministry.
Speculation is rife that Mr Rajnath Singh, who had virtually taken the crucial decision to project Mr Modi as the party’s PM candidate, could be in charge of either home or defence. Incidentally, following his approach towards minorities, the BJP chief as emerged as the ‘most secular face’ in the lotus brigade.
Incidentally, there are talks within the party to maintain a balance of power like the Atal-Advani regime. Mr L.K. Advani, who was the home minister, later took over as deputy prime minister. Meanwhile, there is also speculation over the external affairs portfolio, in which Mr Jaitley’s name keeps cropping up, though he is more keen on the finance ministry.
Many in the party believe that Mr Modi would like to use his abilities as external affairs minister. “Mr Jaitley will be handy for Mr Modi in many ways, one the language, knowledge, and articulation. He also enjoys Modi’s confidence,” a BJP leader said.
