Earlier also, the PM has handed over batons to these two minister since last November whenever he was touring abroad.
The prime minister’s choice is out in public again. Ignoring defence minister AK Antony, a note from the cabinet secretariat says finance minister Pranab Mukherjee or home minister P Chidambaram will preside over the cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA) when prime minister Manmohan Singh will be visiting Seoul from Saturday.
Earlier also, the PM has handed over batons to these two minister since last November whenever he was touring abroad. The note does not mention defence minister AK Antony, who many in the Congress believe was the natural heir of Singh for his clean character.
Singh will be in Seoul from March 24 to 27 to attend the second nuclear security summit and hold bilateral talks with Korean leaders.
A ‘Secret/Most Urgent’ note sent out by cabinet secretary Ajit Seth to nine senior ministers says, “The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs may decide on issues of national urgency. The CCPA will, in the PM’s absence, be presided over by the senior-most minister.
The note detailing the working arrangement for disposal of business in the absence of the prime minister also says that either Mukherjee or Chidambaram shall remain in Delhi to preside over the CCPA meeting or decide on urgent policy matters.
Even if going by the seniority list in the CCPA, as mentioned in the note, Chidambaram figures only at No 4. Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and Antony figure at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively after Mukherjee.
Earlier, the prime minister used to leave on tours without naming anyone specific to handle exigency in his absence.
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