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JD(U) sore over inadequate seats in Cabinet

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 2. The Janata Dal (United), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, is sore over the "inadequate" representation of the party in the Union Council of Ministers.

Murmurs to this effect were heard at a meeting of State presidents and central office bearers of the party here on Monday, with party leaders suggesting that the BJP should give "representation according to the strength of MPs".

The argument was that the JD (U), which originally had 22 MPs, had been given four Cabinet and two Ministers of State posts. After a three-way split, with the Samata Party breaking away first and the Lok Janshakti Party moving away later, the JD (U) was left with six MPs with only one Cabinet Minister, its president, Sharad Yadav.

The JD (U), which was instrumental in wooing three MPs from the Samajwadi Party, Ramakant Yadav, Bhalchandra Yadav and Sarvaraj Singh, and has the support of the party's dissident, Balram Singh Yadav, felt that the party's efforts had not been commensurate.

"If the PMK, with five MPs, can get two Ministers of State, the JD (U), with an effective strength of 10 MPs, should get greater representation in the Union Council of Ministers'', a senior party leader said. However, it is unlikely that the party would take any step to create trouble.

The party viewed the shifting of Mr. Sharad Yadav from Labour to his opposition to lowering of interest rates on provident fund and disfavouring changes in labour laws. A statement to this effect was issued by the Orissa JD (U) leader, Jogendra Tripathy.

The meeting also rejected the RSS proposal demanding trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. The party national secretary, Javed Raza, said the JD (U) had always stood for the unity of the country and cannot support any plan to divide it.

The party had decided to conduct organisational polls by October and that the current enrolment drive would end by this month. It had also decided to begin preparations in States where Assembly polls are due to be held during the next six months.

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