NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
Newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party president M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday rejected the opposition criticism that the Cabinet reshuffle effected by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been unfair to the allies of the National Democratic Alliance.
"This is wrong. Most of the important portfolios like defence, industry, commerce, heavy industry, energy and railways continue to rest with our allies," he said, talking to newsmen at the Chennai airport on his way to the Balaji temple in Tirupati, after taking over the party rein.
He said this is despite the BJP being the leader of the combine and accounting for two-thirds of the NDA's strength in the Lok Sabha.
"The opposition do not have any right to criticise the BJP-NDA, as they are not united themselves. It is not their government, and the allies know how to take care of their interests. If it is the question within the BJP, then again we have a party leadership of our own, which can address such questions," he said.
The BJP chief, who was given a warm welcome by the Tamil Nadu party leaders and cadres, expressed the hope that Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee would join the Vajpayee government soon.
"There are problems," he conceded, "but they would be sorted out."
He said the prime minister had already spoken to Mamata in this regard.
Describing his induction as party chief as a 'generational change', he said, "It would cover other leaders at different levels."
"We will take the government's good performance to the people, and take the people's problems to the government. We will also gear up the party machinery, to effectively combat the negative campaign launched by our political rivals," he said.
Naidu also disclosed his plans to hold discussions with sister organisations in the Sangh Parivar, on various issues. "They are as much separate organisations as the BJP, and we will hold talks on the basis of mutual accommodation."
Referring to the Tamil Nadu situation, Naidu reiterated that the BJP continued to be aligned to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. "We are fully with the DMK, and there is no change in that position," he said.
The Complete Coverage: Cabinet Reshuffle 2002
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