Home alone

Congress and NCP go for the big kill the Home Ministry portfolio. Sunday MiD DAY analyses why

Congress and NCP go for the big kill the Home Ministry portfolio. Sunday MiD DAY analyses why

Why home ministry
The home ministry spells power. "Police officials also feel that the home ministry should be with the chief minister," says Congress spokesperson Anand Gadgil.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi at an election rally before the state Assembly pollsu00a0Pic/ Nimesh Dave

The intelligence head of the state reports to the home minister. This allows the chief minister to take immediate action in times of crisis, say the 26/11 attacks or a communal riot.

All political intelligence collected by the department is reported to the home minister. The minister can keep tabs on politicians and political activities across the state through the intelligence and various police departments. Even the tapping of phones, if any, has to be routed through the additional chief secretary home, who reports to the minister.

Besides, for most political workers, the posting of a pliable officer at the local police stations is most important. And is linked to the influence the party commands at the local police stations.

Above all, the department is allegedly a cash cow for the corrupt, given the alleged powers of the police with regard to various licenses including weapons licenses and also for the running of establishments like bars, hotels and theatres, besides allegedly controlling several illegal activities. Postings of police officers depend on the money they are willing to shell out for a particular posting.

Finance Ministry
The other portfolios that both the Congress and NCP are fighting over include finance that holds the key to the coffers and the power to draw up the budget.

Public Works Department
The Public Works Department (PWD) handles all infrastructure and development works in the country. The department carries out most road building projects including express highways and flyover projects in the city.

Power Ministry
The ministry sanctions power projects and power generation in the state involving massive funds. Rural electrification and sufficient power supply for industries and the common citizens is a powerful tool to tap the voter base. The Congress is worried that the state will become load-shedding free by 2012 and the NCP will hog all the credit for it.

Tribal Development
The Congress has been on the backfoot in the tribal belt after the NCP made impressive inroads in the tribal belt. Congressman Manikrao Gavit lost to Sharad Gavit, former NCP minister Vijaykumar Gavit's brother. Tribals in the state have been traditional Congress supporters and the Congress would not like to lose the seat, as this ministry will allow Congressmen to hold sway over the tribals by carrying out development work.

Congress spokesperson Anand Gadgil says, "There is a feeling in the cadre that surrendering all the crucial portfolios last time was a mistake. It should be resolved by Monday."

"The stalemate is on the numbers and not on the portfolios as the Congress is not agreeing to the above mentioned numbers for the sharing of ministerial berths," says NCP spokesperson Dinkar Tawde.