Modi Cabinet formation - Internal dynamics

Excerpts from media reports - about the intra organizational dynamics behind the formation of Narendra Modi cabinet

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"Bhagwat has created a team headed by Soni to facilitate Cabinet formation and work out coalition details with allies. Those in the team include Ram Madhav, ideologue Dattatreya Hosabale and RSS national executive member Arun Kumar." TNIE report

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"Ananth Kumar's induction into Narendra Modi’s cabinet was the result of a swirl of backroom negotiations between the new prime minster and the the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. "In the days leading to cabinet formation, indications were that Kumar would be kept out of the cabinet and tasked with strengthening the party. 

Sangh leaders had wanted the six-time MP from Bangalore South to be considered for the post of party president in place of the newly named home minister, Rajnath Singh. But when Modi declared his reservations about this, hectic talks ensued to make sure that each side got something it wanted. RSS leader Dattatraya Hosabale, is said to have prevailed upon the PM to make Kumar a part of his cabinet."  Modi was not keen on Ananthkumar as party president and he took him into the cabinet as a compromise and gave him the portfolio of chemicals and fertilizer. TOI report

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"Kumar has been downsized was apparent at the swearing-in ceremony. Despite him being the BJP parliamentary board secretary, he was the 13th person called to take the oath. D V Sadananda Gowda, whose candidature was opposed by Kumar, was called much ahead of him. Kumar's slow march to the podium, way behind Sadananda Gowda"

"Role of Ananthkumar in the Karnataka BJP is criticised by many.  Although he is one of the senior most central leaders, he is considered as source of many confusions within the party. Ananthkumar had opposed Sadanada Gowda's candidature from Bangalore North.  Former Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S.Yediyurappa has complained in many occassions about Ananthkumar as creating trouble in the party and the government.  Allegations of "understanding with the opposition leaders" such as Devegowda and Siddaramaiah have surfaced during the recently concluded elections.  Before the elections, it was reported that he was part of the 160 brigade.  He along with his supporter Ashok are blamed for loosing a couple of seats including Chikkaballapur and Chitradurga." "Ananthkumar is considered as responsible for excluding Modi from BJP parliamentary board in 2006 without any reason by pressurizing Rajnath Singh, who was president at that time. It is alledged that the exclusion was to preempt his growth and avoid him as a competitior to to L.K.Advani and other leaders". "He is also blamed for diluting the ideological purity of the organization". 

"Kumar was part of the inner circle of AB Vajpayee and LK Advani and is considered to be a member of the latter's camp. This time, he was hopeful of much bigger ministry. Circle close to Kumar said the former Union minister has been aiming at the railways portfolio which ultimately went to Gowda. With this developent, his leadership and stature is considered as diminished. However, Ananthkumar and his supporters in the state unit maintain that this is a temporary phase and Kumar will get an important portfolio in the next reshuffle". "Ananthkumar is now making every effort to to get into the inner circle of Modi and some reports claim that he has been one of three hand-picked by Modi other two being Smrithi Irani and Ravishankar prasad".  FPJ report

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Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani was very vocal on the issue of bringing back black money in to the country and had even followed it up by filing a case in the Supreme Court. He was one of the very first men in BJP who had been pushing for Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Jethmalani is now out of the party and did not go to the swearing in ceremony although he had an invitation for the function. He said in an interview "Modi was  obstructed by many people both within and outside. Every trick has been tried within the BJP to ensure that Modi does not succeed. I always knew that Modi would take measures to get black money in to the country. So, I proposed Modi for PM candidature.  Whatever I have done for the BJP, I did as a part of duty for the Nation. Senior leaders expelled me from the party. I was expelled because I was one of the first ones in the BJP to say that Modi should be made the PM candidate. I have no doubt about it, that is the only thing that worried them.

 LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari and Ananth Kumar  were against Modi becoming the PM, it is true. Specially Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj.  Narendra Modi keeping his enemies close to him by alloting them key ministries. It is appeasing, he keeps his enemies closer, he is making sacrifices. However I am not happy with what he has done but then I don't have to bear the responsibility that he does." ET report

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Presently, the affairs of the BJP are overseen by a five-member team comprising RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, sah karyavah (general secretary) Bhaiyyaji Joshi and joint general secretaries Soni, Hosabale and Krishna Gopal, with Soni representing the Sangh in the BJP.  This arrangement would change after the victory of BJP in parliament elections. 

"Dattatreya Hosabale, an RSS leader is set to become the Sangh’s main liaison man with the BJP. For past decade, this crucial slot in the RSS has been occupied by Suresh Soni. Both Hosabale and Soni are sah sarkaryavah (joint general secretaries) of the RSS."   “Hosabale has already started functioning as the Sangh’s liaison man for last few months,” said a senior RSS functionary, who asked for anonymity. In the Sangh Parivar, this post has always been very crucial as the person carrying out this responsibility has the final say in all the BJP’s key decisions. The advice of the liaison man is always considered the viewpoint of the RSS and is given due respect in the BJP.  Hosbale is considered more accommodative and open to new ideas

Soni, who has been facing health problems for some time, has expressed his willingness to be relieved of the responsibility so that he could pursue “a spiritual life”. A formal announcement will be made only “after the formation and stabilisation of the Narendra Modi government”. SI report

Modi invite - Security implications

There is a terror attack on Indian installation in Afghanistan. Pakistani elements may be behind the attack. The attack is continuation of the Jihad against India and was timed at the installation of Modi Government in Delhi.

The Indian consulate in Herat in Afghanistan was attacked on Friday, 23rd May 2014 by four heavily armed gunmen who tried to enter the complex. All four attackers were killed by ITBP police forces and Afghan security personnel and the consulate staff was safe. The attack began at 3.15 a.m. when the four gunmen tried to break into the consulate, located 600 km from Kabul. A group called Ansar al Tawhid (AaT) is suspected to be behind the attack equipped with rocket-propelled grenades. The audacious attack comes ahead of the May 26 swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as India's next prime minister after the Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed his attendance in the oath-taking ceremony. 

The residents of western Herat of Afghanistan on Saturday,

 Indo-Tibetan Border Police at the consulate held off the assault 

until Afghanistan's National Army (ANA) soldiers arrived to help 

secure the consulate

24th May 2014 demanded shifting of Indian consulate, which was attacked by gunmen a day earlier, out of the city. Dozens of people held a protest demonstration outside the Indian consulate to demand its immediate shifting. The demonstrators threatened to launch massive protest rallies if the Indian consulate was not shifted outside the city. The residents of 4th zone complained numerous problems owing to frequent security incidents and closure of roads.