Regd. No. MH/MR/South-160/2012-14 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in
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Arun Shourie To Be FM?
DESPATCH & COURIER
He is well-respected, has an impeccable track record as a former minister, and is a fearless believer in financial reforms
By Deepak Sahijwala likely to get the finance port- Disinvestment, Communica-
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rime minister probable, Narendra Modi’s selection of Union ministers for his cabinet has become a subject of much discussion and speculation, both amongst investors and political pundits. However, the stock markets which are at an all-time high seem more concerned. After all, the choice of the man who will don the mantle of finance, will be the man who will shape policy and in doing so, decide the course of the markets. While rumours doing the rounds suggest BJP leader and close aide of Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley, is
By Suyash Padate
T
Great! To challenge the united regional parties, major national parties have also resumed their unity talks once again.
tion and Information Technology under Vajpayee’s prime ministership. As Disinvestment Minister, he led the sale of Maruti, VSNL, Hindustan Zinc, among others. Incidentally, his likely appointment is worrying top bureaucrats of North Block, which houses the ministry of finance. According to sources, the likelihood of Shourie coming in as finance minister has already crept in, perhaps through the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and over the past 36 hours, files are being shuffled around and being put in order. The reason: “If Shourie comes in, many questions will have to be answered.” For the markets, he could be good. His pro-reforms mindset and his absolute distaste for bureaucratic delays would ensure that the incom-
Woman’s World Pg13-20
BJP’s Best Alternative
FOR the BJP to redeem the economy from its current mess, its only alternative is to pursue divestment aggressively. And its here that Shourie’s past experience will be of help. The new government can easily raise Rs 1 lakh crore by divesting 10 percent or more of stake in top 10 PSUs, including ONGC, Coal India and NTPC to overcome the immediate problems of budgetary revenue in the face of economic slowdown, a study by ASSOCHAM said last week. It said the top 10 PSUs, which can be divested to raise rich resources at today’s market capitalisation, include ONGC, Coal India, State Bank of India, NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation, NMDC, Power Grid Corporation and BHEL. “The combined market capitalisation of these companies including Bank of Baroda exceeds Rs 11 lakh crore as the market is riding the wave of FIIs inflows built on decisive new government. If the results of elections are for stable government, the market capitalization of these companies can easily go up by another 15-20 per cent raising prospects for better realizations for the government from minority divestment,” ASSOCHAM said.
ing government’s reforms agenda will be pushed through aggressively. Traders and fund managers believe that his coming in as finance minister could see another
GADKARI PITCHES FOR HOME
MUMBHAI Vikas Sabnis
folio, a source close to the inner circles of the BJP says that an Arun will be finance minister...but not Arun Jaitley. It will be Arun Shourie journalist, author and politician. Shourie, a Modi confidant is a well-respected, outspoken leader of the party with an impeccable track record. He has worked as an economist with the World Bank, a consultant to the Planning Commission of India, editor of the Indian Express and The Times of India and was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982. And what stands him out is his integrity and his reputation for fighting corruption. Simply meaning he has clean hands. He has also been a minister in the government of India (1998–2004). He held the office of the Minister of
Gold: `29,635 Silver: `42,440 US Dollar: `59.68 Temperature: 320C/270C Humidity: 55%
he results of the Lok Sabha elections are just a day away, with the exit polls predicting victory for the BJP and its allies. The party's top leaders are already in a series of meetings scrambling for plum portfolios. Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari had scampered across to Gujarat hoping to get in his request for the post of Home Minister. Confident of the NDA coming to power on May 16, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Rajnath Singh and senior leaders like Arun Jaitley and others, including Nitin Gadkari have been having closed-door meetings at Gandhinagar to discuss the post-poll strategy.
fence Ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs. Former Army Chief General VK Singh is likely to be given a Minister of State post in the Defence Ministry. BJP allies like LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan will also be inducted and could be given Health or Agriculture. A possible role for the senior-most leader LK AdThe bone of contention vani came up for discusat the moment seems to be sion. Sources say Advani the vital Home portfolio could be offered the role of with current BJP president the NDA chairperson. Rajnath Singh and Gadkari However, Modi himself will both hoping to bag the take the decision on Advani Home Ministry. Rajnath as he is against creating Singh, who is adamant on one more power center. getting this portfolio, has Top RSS leaders are already suggested that Gadkari can in Delhi to oversee the dishandle the Railway min- tribution of portfolios in a istry instead. As a result, Modi-led government. yesterday's meetings was If the NDA gets a clear inconclusive, sources said. majority, the Modi governIt is understood that the ment is likely be sworn in party is considering by May 20. Sushma Swaraj for the De-
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7% to 8% spurt in the markets. As regards, where does the other Arun go? ‘Jaitley is likely to get external affairs,’ says our source.
Munde sulks
By Prashant Hamine
iffed at being overlooked at the party's state executive meeting yesterday, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde threatened to skip all future meetings. It was all due to his name being omitted from the pre-meet party statement issued earlier. After much persuasion, Munde relented and addressed the meeting of office bearers at the Mumbai party office at Dadar. Speaking to newspersons later, Munde was confident that the BJP-Shiv Sena led Mahayuti will win at least 35 seats. He called upon party cadres to hit the ground running for the ensuing Assembly elections. He also ruled out
the possibility of the BJP led NDA seeking support of the NCP in the post poll scenario. Replying to queries about his role in national politics post Lok Sabha election results, the senior BJP leader remarked that it was for the party to decide on whether to retain him in Continued on pg 6 «