New Delhi:
The Prime Minister met with his allies this evening at his residence. The first meeting of the UPA in a year focused largely on the fierce battle the government is fighting with activists over the Lokpal Bill, which is meant to introduce a tough new law against corruption. After nine meetings and publicly-traded criticism, the ministers and activists assigned to draft the Lokpal Bill are left clutching two separate versions.
Farooq Abdullah, chairperson of the National Conference, said Dr Manmohan Singh briefed his allies about both drafts. In a huge setback for him, the DMK said it does not endorse the government's stand that the Lokpal Bill should not apply to the Prime Minister's Office. Represented by TR Baalu, the party also said its final views on the Lokpal Bill will be shared in Parliament.
The dissent of the DMK will be attributed by some to the arrest of Kanimozhi whose father, M Karunanidhi, heads the DMK. Mr Karunanidhi flew to Delhi this morning to meet Kanimozhi, in jail for the 2G telecom scam. He did not attend the today's meeting.
The PM, sources said, also wanted test his allies' temperatures about an impending Cabinet reshuffle. In addition to forcing the exit of under-performing ministers, the reshuffle will need to accommodate the wishlist of UPA heavyweights. Mamata Banerjee, for example, who has taken over as West Bengal Chief Minister, wants the Railways Ministry to be inherited by her party, the Trinamool Congress.
(Read: PM-Sonia start talks on major Cabinet reshuffle)
And the DMK, whose A Raja resigned as Telecom Minister before he was sent to jail for the 2G scam, may want a replacement portfolio.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament has, meanwhile, been announced. It will start on August 1 and is scheduled to conclude on September 8. Earlier, this session was meant to commence on July 18 - the delay may not go down well with the Opposition, which wants to strike with issues like the telecom scam while they're hot.
(Read: BJP slams govt for pushing back monsoon session of Parliament)