Most Cong.(I) Ministers refuse to take charge

By K. Balchand

PATNA, APRIL 3. Two of the three Ministers of State who could not take oath earlier were today inducted into the Rabri Devi Government, increasing the strength of the Council of Ministers to 84. Most of the Congress(I) Ministers, however, are yet to assume office.

The Governor, Mr. V. C. Pande, administered oath of office to the Congress(I) Legislator, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, and the Independent member, Mrs. Joba Manjhi. However, Mr.Abdul Jalil Mastan (Congress-I), bereaved by his brother's death, could not be sworn in even today.

Mr. Balmuchu took oath as a Minister of State even though he had spurned the offer in the first place. His grievance stood redressed with the Chief Minister giving him independent charge, and that too, of the crucial Department of Planning.

The very fact that Mr. Balmuchu took oath today might well be an indication that the resentment among some of the Congress(I) Ministers over distribution of portfolios was unlikely to precipitate into a crisis.

Even those Congress(I) Ministers who were quite satisfied with their Ministries did not assume office today expressing solidarity with partymen who were upset with their portfolios, the CLP Leader, Mr. Phurkan Ansari, who has openly expressed his contentment with the Ministry of Roads allotted to him, also did not assume office. He was, however, present at the swearing-in ceremony.

It is learnt that the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav had a talk with both the Speaker, Mr. Sadanand Singh, and the Bihar PCC Chief, Mr. Chandan Bagchi, to prevail upon their party Ministers to take charge.

Mr. Yadav, it is said, was willing to consider their complaints at a later stage. But propriety demanded that the Ministers take charge.

Some of those dissatisfied held a meeting at the place of Mr. Chandrashekhar Dubey, who has been allocated the Tourism portfolio. Others present included Mr. Manoj Yadav, (Forest and Environment), Mr. Vishmamohan Sharma. (Industries) and Dr. Shakeel Ahmed (Medical Education).

Dr. Ahmed said he was satisfied with his portfolio and that he was with the group only to express solidarity. They later called on the party's State unit president to express unhappiness over the shabby treatment meted out to them.

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