Vajpayee asks Hegde to chair Indo-French Commission

NEW DELHI, NOV 13: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is learnt to have offered a sop to the sulking Lok Shakti leader, Ramakrishna Hegd...

NEW DELHI, NOV 13: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is learnt to have offered a sop to the sulking Lok Shakti leader, Ramakrishna Hegde, before leaving for Durban. It’s the chairmanship of the Indo-French Joint Commission. He will not have to report to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. He will hold the rank of a Cabinet Minister and enjoy all the perks and privileges of a minister.

Hegde’s rehabilitation was discussed by the Prime Minister with the Janata Dal (United) president, Sharad Yadav, before the latter left for Madhepura and Vajpayee headed for the Commonwealth conference.

Yadav broached the subject with the PM when he called on him to discuss smooth functioning of the National Democratic Alliance. Without commenting on the merits of excluding Hegde from the Union Cabinet, Yadav pointed out that this had created avoidable hurdles in the way of the merger of the Janata Dal, the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti. It was also felt that prolonged rumblings on the issue can cause problems inBihar which will go to polls early next year.

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The Prime Minister responded by saying that he had been very liberal in accommodating JD (U) leaders in the Union Ministry. Vajpayee also made it clear that he had no plans to expand his ministry further at this juncture. However, he said he was willing to utilise the services of Hegde to promote Indo-French ties. Of course, considering Hegde’s seniority, he would be given a Cabinet rank.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Yadav said the issue of Hegde’s rehabilitation did come up for discussion with the PM. Since Hegde was away in Bangalore, no definite decision could be reached.