PM names none to head govt in his absence -Governance Now

PM names none to head govt in his absence

Singh will be in South Korea between March 24 and 27

GN Bureau | March 23, 2012

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has chosen not to name any one to head the government and handle any urgency that may crop up during his Korea visit from March 24 to 27.

"The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) may decide on issues of national urgency. The CCPA will, in Prime Minister's absence, be presided over by the senior-most minister," says a "Secret/Most Urgent" note sent out by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to nine senior ministers. It is always the PM who chairs the CCPA meetings.

The note does not specify who is the senior minister who will chair CCPA in his absence. If another directive in the note is read, it has to be either Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee or Home Minister P Chidambaram as it says one of them has to remain Delhi during the period of the Prime Minister's absence.

However, if going by the seniority of names addressed in the note, Chidambaram figures only at No 4 as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Defence Minister A K Antony figure at No 2 and 3 respectively after Mukherjee.

Though Dinesh Trivedi had resigned as the railway minister late Sunday night, the note sent out on Monday is also addressed to him as has been to the representative ministers.

Those whom the note was addressed are: MK Alagiri and Dr Farooq Abdullah, SM Krishna and Kapil Sibal.

Dr Manmohan Singh does not want any policy matters decided in his absence except those warranting immediate decision. The note says: "Policy matters requiring the PM's approval may, if these do not warrant immediate consideration or decision, be held over."

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