Natarajan in cabinet creates PAC crisis for govt -Governance Now

Natarajan in cabinet creates PAC crisis for govt

Cong now a minority in panel, may not be able to stop tabling of report on 2G

GN Bureau | July 19, 2011

Elevation of party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan as the union minister of environment and forests has left the Congress a minority in the parliamentary accounts committee (PAC).

Natarajan had to resign from the committee following her cabinet posting. With her exit, the Congress lost the majority it held by a single MP.

The narrow majority had helped the Congress reject the 2G report prepared by PAC chairperson and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

Meanwhile, this has created a crisis of sorts for the party as the vacancy needs to be filled in the monsoon session and the Congress does not have the necessary strength in Parliament to ensure that its nominee gets the seat. This could pose a huge embarrassment for the government as the election of a BJP supported candidate to the seat would mean that Joshi's report will get the panel's approval.

Oscar Fernandes is being touted as the Congress candidate for the vacancy but the party does not have enough numbers in Rajya Sabha to get Fernandes in. It may have to seek the support of AIADMK, SP and the BSP.

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