Oddly, Pranab babu talks tough

Well into its second term, one would assume that overworked multi EGOM-loaded Pranab babu would start slowing down with sheer work fatigue. While that may indeed be the case with some members of the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has found the right person in Dada to wield the stick he needs. Right now, Dilli is talking about a more confident finance minister -- Pranab Mukherjee getting publicly tough with his colleagues. Pranab's current muscle-flexing may partially be because he is poised to present the Union Budget later this week and is under pressure from various ministers to accept their budget-related demands. But observers say that his no-nonsense approach has been effective in showing errant and powerful-in-their-own-right mantris their rightful place without ruffling too many feathers.

Among recent victims of Pranab da's 'danda' policy are Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M K Azhagiri. This is a formidable list. It includes partners in a big way, but 'Congis' also are targets.

Pranab shot down Deora's demand for hiking fuel prices as well as his plan to expand and upgrade the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's constituency! Usually, this would be a holy cow! It was Pranabda again who stopped Mamta in her tracks by pulling her up for coming up with new rail projects on the eve of the rail budget. A weepy-teary Mamta is indeed a rare sight, but Pranab prevailed. In a similar fashion, Pranab has managed to push through a new fertiliser policy against strong protests from mighty Pawar. Wags are now saying that Manmohan Singh has found the perfect class monitor for his often raucous and rambunctious flock.

Or is it just that Pranab da has now realised that this indeed may be the highest he will get, so he might as well do his bit to make 'em sweat.