A missed opportunity

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh missed an opportunity to refurbish the image of his government, which is in the thick of corruption charges even by reshuffling his Cabinet . PM's Tuesday’s exercise was not a reshuffle but a shuffle. It was his work in progress about the Cabinet rejig which he had told the top selected editors in a meeting with them a few days back. His Cabinet reshuffle makes no positive impact on the image of his government, though it is his prerogative.Cabinet reshuffle was a long-awaited shake-up of the government to infuse hope among the disappointed countrymen. But in reality, it was a lack-lustre formal govt. function in which 7 were dropped and 8 new were inducted, besides a few more transfer of protfolios here and there. Infrastructure earning ministries were left untouched and adequate number of younger leaders were not inducted and the PM failed to give his Council of Ministers a youthful image as half of our country’s population is young.Though Uttar Pradesh- the largest populated and politically most important state- was taken into consideration in view of assembly elections next year there, Bihar remained unrepresented in Manmohan’s Cabinet despite the fact it is second to UP and Congress is in worst shape.This Cabinet reshuffle amply reflects that this government is passing the time till 2014 and Prime Minister is making his way out for Rahul Gandhi after 2014 if ever Congress-led UPA came back to power. Accusations of corruption against Manmohan Singh government is mountain high, though the PM’s personal honesty and integrity is unquestioned. But they have reached to his door. This Cabinet re-shuffle was a golden opportunity for the PM to boost his government’s image, which has become tainted,shaky and embarrassed among the public. He could have given a development oriented, yuothful, reforms driven and action savvy look through the Cabinet reshuffle. But he has adopted a very defensive approach and please all tactics,sending out no positive signal among the people. It is also a fact that in the age of coalition politics the PM like Dr. Manmohan Singh is best suited, though the nation remains in loss. Barring his personal academic qualities, he is neither assertive nor has guts to take his own decision. By undertaking his last Cabinet re-shuffle before 2014, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has failed miserably to give a face-lift to the government.