Meaningless reshuffle in Union cabinet will lead to nothing

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SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL

20 January, 2011

Stripping Praful Patel of Union Ministry of Civil Aviation was compensated by promoting him as a minister of cabinet rank, evidently to keep him quite.

MEANINGLESS RESHUFFLE of Union Cabinet on January 19, 2011, is just like a play of cards and it involves mere redistribution of some portfolios. Stripping Praful Patel of high-profile Union Ministry of Civil Aviation was compensated by promoting him as a minister of cabinet rank, evidently to keep him quite.

If any minister is found unfit to hold charge, he should not be uselessly retained as a burden on public-exchequer just for political reasons. Political blackmailing in present era of coalition politics must be ended by appointing only those as ministers, who have not contested any elections in last say six years.

Prime Minister should be elected by a secret and compulsory vote of all members of Lok Sabha through electronic voting machines (EVMs) on nominations signed by at least one-third members. Members not opting to vote may automatically lose their membership of the House.

Such an elected leader may only be removed by the same process but with a compulsion to name alternate leader in the same motion. Rather, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker should also be elected simultaneously with Prime Minister in the same manner.

This system will pave way for fixed-term legislatures apart from inducing quality in ministerial appointments when experts rather than professional politicians running politics like family-business, will be made ministers. Huge savings in legislative expenses will be possible by reducing ministerial strength to 10 per cent of strength of lower House as per original recommendations of Administrative Reforms Commission.