No Yadavs in cabinet

NEW DELHI: Why did PM Manmohan Singh pick Mallikarjun Kharge when there were already two Cabinet ministers from Karnataka, which elected just six Congress MPs? Kharge became a necessity as he is a Mala (Dalit) while Veerappa Moily is an OBC and external affairs minister S M Krishna a ���nonbackward ��� Vokaligga. Kolar MP Muniyappa is also a Dalit, has made the grade but he is from another sub-caste , Madiga, spread across the state and political prudence demands balancing both Malas (Kharge) and Madigas.

There is one Jat in the team ��� Mahadev Khandela, winner from Sikar, has been inducted as MoS and is seen as someone with potential. Then, after Lalu Prasad���s colourful presence in the previous ministry, there are no Yadavs in the Cabinet either. The lone Yadav is an MoS ��� Arun Yadav.

Subodh Kant Sahay is the only Congress MP from Jharkhand and elections are not too far. Charan Das Mahant is sole victor from Chattisgarh but though elections are far off the state cannot be seen as having been abandoned . G K Moopanar���s son G K Vasan is an organisation man from Tamil Nadu, a quality not associated with home minister P Chidambaram. Also with several stalwarts like Mani Shankar Aiyer, Thanka Balu and Elangoval losing, Vasan made the cut.

Maharashtra���s Mukul Wasnik returns to government after 13 years. His organisational skills, perseverence and loyalty have paid off. Haryana���s Selja, a Dalit, has made steady progress. She was first inducted as junior minister in the P V Narasimha Rao government and is now in the Cabinet. The threat of BSP in Haryana is a potent consideration too.

Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal is all sincerity and tenacity. When people junior to him were getting Cabinet berths, he could not have been allowed to languish. He is an experienced Parliament hand. Prithviraj Chavan has been MOS in PMO, is a Maratha, has seniority and scores on loyalty . He may continue in the post while holding independent charge of a ministry.