New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) Rahul Gandhi's influence in the Manmohan Singh-led United Progresssive Alliance (UPA)-II ministry is on the rise as three of his confidants were among the seven new Congress ministers who joined the 25-month-old ministry, party insiders say.
"Among today's new ministers, Jitendra Singh and Milind Deora belong to the Rahul brigade and have worked closely with him. The major backing for Rajiv Shukla also came from Rahul," a Congress leader, who preferred to be unidentified, told IANS.
Even though Rahul himself may be averse to joining the government as yet, with today's reshuffle there are seven "Rahul's men" -- all ministers of state -- among the 62 Congress ministers in the 78-member Manmohan Singh team.
"Not that the others, including the senior cabinet ministers, are not in favour of Rahul (joining the government). They are also for him and his ideas," the leader said emphatically.
The other four ministers belonging to the Rahul brigade are Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas R.P.N. Singh.
Most of these Rahul men are of a political lineage like Sachin Pilot, Jyotiradiya Scindia, Milin Deora and Jitin Prasada (their fathers were Congress party leaders) or, like R.P.N. Singh and Jitendra Singh, belong to erstwhile royal families, said Kochi-based political analyst K. Sreekumar.
Despite the rise in numbers of the Rahul brigade, the representation from the rank and file of the Youth Congress and National Students of India (NSUI) has yet to impact on the cabinet, said Jaipur-based analyst Baalji Sharma. Rahul has been concentrating on rejuvenating the Youth Congress and the NSUI for the past four years, infusing new blood and broadening its cadre base.
"In the union cabinet at least, Rahul's men are 'rajkumars' (princes) from royal families or modern royalties of privileged political families. But in the states, there are leaders from ordinary backgrounds who have reached top slots through the Rahul team. Like Kerala's first woman tribal minister Vijayalakshmi, a national level archer, who was spotted by Rahul and invited to join politics," Sharma told IANS.
More than the numerical rise, Tuesday's reshuffle saw the Rahul's men moving into key portfolios, political circles point out. Jitendra Singh, who used to work in Rahul Gandhi's office till now, moves to the North Block to be part of the important home ministry. Similary, both the ministers of the state in the communications ministry -- Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora -- are Rahul brigade members.
Political observers see the chances of more people who are known to be close to Rahul, and who work with him, moving into key positions if there is a cabinet reshuffle next year, possibly around the time of the Uttar Pradesh elections.
But why not Rahul himself in the cabinet? Party leaders have only their individual explanations.
"Rahulji has said several times that he does not have the experience to become the prime minister. "May be he want to make a mark as a mass politician, like in the recent farmers' agitation, and then move into ministership or much more," said a party leader from Uttar Pradesh, who also did not want to be named on such delicate matters.
However, the opposition is not all impressed by the moves to induct younger people in the cabinet.
"The reshuffle has disappointed all, including the ruling party people. Rahul brigade or Sonia brigade, they are all old wine in new bottles. They will not be able to save the UPA government submerged in corruption," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told IANS.