The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila makes a dent in dissident camp

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila makes a dent in dissident camp

Sujay Mehdudia

Winter session of Assembly passed off without any major embarrassment

NEW DELHI: The Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit might not have succeeded in stopping the sealing drive but she has managed to divide the dissident camp by pinching some MLAs and in the process ensured that the winter session of the Delhi Assembly passed off without any major embarrassment to her and her Government. It is another matter, political observers feel, that the Government's reputation and that of Ms. Dikshit has been dented badly due to these developments.

The group led by the DPCC president, Ram Babu Sharma received a jolt in shape of three-time MLA, Mukesh Sharma who again switched sides dumping Mr. Ram Babu, who incidentally also happens to be his relative, in favour of the Chief Minister putting a question mark on his already fragile credibility. Ms. Dikshit played her cards very well and after the fireworks in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting ensured that the dissidents remained a divided house and did not trouble her during the session. Another known dissident face, Tarvinder Singh Marwah also switched loyalties and advocated the cause of the Chief Minister. Interestingly, the loyalists are feeling uncomfortable with these developments feeling that influx of "such dissident MLAs" whose loyalty has always remained questionable might marginalise their presence and increase the stakeholders in any future power sharing formula.

"Although there is little doubt that Mr. Ram Babu Sharma has not been able to manage his flock well, but the matter of fact is that majority of those who have now joined hands with the Chief Minister are reportedly being promised Ministerial berths. These legislators have been given an impression that a Cabinet reshuffle was in the offing and they stood a good chance of replacing the old Ministers. It remains to be seen how long they can hold to the new alignment," a senior Minister added. Interestingly, the proposed "shadow Cabinet" of the Chief Minister performed its role to perfection during the Assembly session and ensured that debates and discussions along with questions that suited the agenda of the CM were fielded and inconvenient queries were put to the dissidents in the Cabinet in order to embarrass them and show them in poor light.

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