The Hindu Business Line : A jinxed Ministry

THE last five years have seen no less than 10 Ministers heading the Coal Ministry, not to speak of the two Prime Ministers holding temporary charge in the interregnum.

While the BJP-led NDA Government under Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee set quite a record with nine Ministers at the helm during its tenure, the present Congress-led UPA Government has already seen a change in the Coal portfolio with the incumbent Minister, Mr Shibu Soren, submitting his resignation following criminal charges against him. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, himself holds the portfolio now.

Mr Dilip Ray was the first Coal Minister in the NDA Government. Mr Naveen Patnaik replaced him on October 13, 1999. To assume charge as Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr Patnaik resigned on March 4, 2000.

Two days after Mr Patnaik's resignation, Mr Vajpayee appointed Rangarajan Kumaramangalam who continued till May 25, 2000. His successor was Mr N.T. Shanmugam who lasted till February 7, 2001.

Mr Syed Shahnawaz Hussain replaced Mr Shanmugam on February 8, 2001 and held charge till September 2 that year.

After Mr Hussain's exit followed Mr Ram Vilas Paswan who ruled over the Ministry from September 3, 2001 to April 29, 2002.

After Mr Paswan came Ms Uma Bharti who functioned as Coal Minister from August 28, 2002 to January 29, 2003, when she left for Bhopal to assume the responsibility of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.

After her it was Mr Karia Munda who assumed charge on January 30, 2003, and left on January 8, 2004.

Then came Ms Mamata Bannerjee. She assumed charge on January 9, 2004 and held it till the NDA Government lost power.

Now since Mr Soren has left, Dr Manmohan Singh holds the portfolio.

Coal India remains headless: In this context, it is interesting to note that Coal India Lt, 100 per cent Government-owned and fully controlled by the Coal Ministry, has been without a head since its Chairman was placed under suspension in June 2003.

And none of the three Ministers who headed the Coal Ministry since then — Mr Karia Munda, Ms Mamata Bannerjee and Mr Shibu Soren — had been able to appoint a full-time Chairman for CIL. As of now, CIL's Director (Marketing), Mr Sashi Kumar, has been given the additional charge of Chairman.

"Now we don't know whether Dr Manmohan Singh will find time to appoint a Chairman for CIL," said a senior official in the company.