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Montek for FM, Chidambaram fine as HM, says India Inc
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is the favourite of Indian industry to become Finance Minister and it wished for P Chidambaram to stay as Home Minister, while seeking a Cabinet berth for Rahul Gandhi.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is the favourite of Indian industry to become Finance Minister and it wished for P Chidambaram to stay as Home Minister, while seeking a Cabinet berth for Rahul Gandhi.
Industry captains were, however, not clear what role Rahul should play in the next Cabinet.
Capital market expert Prithvi Haldea said the finance ministry should go to Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chidambaram should continue as Home Minister. Real estate leader DLF clearly favoured Montek to move to North Block on Raisina Hill that houses the finance ministry.
However, the views are split when it came to sectoral representatives with most of the players giving their wishlist without wanting to be named.
A large corporate house wanted Murli Deora to be back as the Petroleum Minister, or to be replaced by his son Milind. Kamal Nath also found favour for a second term as the Commerce and Industry Minister, although a section felt that Jairam Ramesh could be given the charge.
For telecom ministry, CDMA operators favoured DMK leader A Raja to continue, while GSM lobby wanted the Congress to keep this portfolio with itself, so that it can go ahead with reform process without any hindrances.
