After defending Babri trio, PM may re-induct Harin Pathak

While ruling out the demand for the resignations of Advani, Joshi and Bharati, which have the potential to rock the NDA government, Vajpayee informed the Rajya Sabha today that it was the Prime Minister’s prerogative to decide who should be in his Cabinet.

BJP sources argue that the way has been cleared for Pathak’s re-entry after the stay given by the Gujarat High Court in the case. Law Minister Arun Jaitley had claimed that the former Minister had been charged on flimsy grounds.

Pathak has proved to be a hot potato for the Government — inside or out of it. It is not so much December 6 per se but the Pathak episode which was used by the Congress and the Opposition to put the Government on the mat on the Ayodhya issue during the last two weeks.

In his speech today in the Rajya Sabha and earlier in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister underlined the need to evolve a consensus on the code of conduct which should govern the circumstances in which Ministers should resign.

Though the Prime Minister told the Lok Sabha that Pathak had resigned on his own, sources concede that his resignation was sought only a day before the court stayed the matter. He was not given time to let the matter come up before the High Court.

Meanwhile, there are others, and this includes the Loktantrik Congress, who are stepping up pressure on the Prime Minister for a berth in the ministry. The Loktantrik Congress, which has two MPs in the Lok Sabha and another two members in the Rajya Sabha, feels that if the Akali Dal can be given a Cabinet rank Minister with only two Lok Sabha MPs, and if Ram Vilas Paswan can head the crucial Communications Ministry with just three MPs, why should they not find a place, Especially since they prop up the BJP government in a crucial state like Uttar Pradesh.

Loktantrik Congress leader Naresh Aggarwal is tipped to meet the Prime Minister and Defence Minister George Fernandes here on Wednesday to raise the matter with them.