Title - A reward for Karnataka leaders

While two Karnataka stalwarts have been rewarded with major portfolios for the Congress’ victory in the recent Assembly elections, the Union Cabinet reshuffle on Monday has redeployed forces for retaining power in Rajasthan. The State goes to polls in November.Both Mallikarjun Kharge and Oscar Fernandes, hailing from Karnataka, have been given the charge of the Railways and Road Transport and Highways Ministries respectively replacing C.P Joshi, who held both the portfolios until his induction in the party’s organisation.Rajasthan has been accommodated with as many berths in the Union Cabinet to make up for the loss of Dr. Joshi in the form of Sis Ram Ola and Girija Vyas.Mr. Kharge will be the seventh Railway Minister and Mr. Fernandes the third to steer the Road Ministry during the UPA’s second term in office.The Congress, which is keen on improving the functioning of the Railways, has passed the baton to its fourth leader in less than one year after taking over the Ministry from the Trinamool Congress which quit the UPA.

Similarly, the Congress has failed to provide stability even in the Road Transport Ministry, posting three persons in just about four years.

In the case of the Railways, three TMC leaders Mamata Banerjee, Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy worked as Ministers.

The Congress started its Railway innings after a gap of 16 years with Dr. Joshi but he made way for Pawan Kumar Bansal. However, following bribery charges Mr. Bansal had to quit the post. That got Dr. Joshi back into the Rail Bhawan only to take the train to the organisation giving way to Mr. Kharge.

Kamal Nath’s stint at the Road Transport Ministry was for about 18 months, making way for Dr. Joshi, who was shifted out of Rural Development. Like Mr. Nath, Dr. Joshi too failed to put the Highways on the road to development. Now Mr. Fernandes, considered close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has been vested with the responsibility to rectify the situation.