‘No. 2’ Antony downplays Congress-NCP rift

Defence minister AK Antony on Saturday downplayed the alleged controversy over the ‘number two’ slot in the union cabinet. The Nationalist Congress Party is reportedly miffed over Antony’s elevation as No. 2 in the cabinet bypassing Pawar, who is senior to him.

Defence minister AK Antony on Saturday downplayed the alleged controversy over the ‘number two’ slot in the union cabinet. The Nationalist Congress Party is reportedly miffed over Antony’s elevation as No. 2 in the cabinet bypassing Pawar, who is senior to him.

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“There is no senior and junior cabinet minister. All are equal,” Antony said on the sidelines of a function in Mumbai.

NCP leader DC Tripathi also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday but emphasised it had nothing to do with the ongoing crisis. “We discussed the situation in Nepal,” said Tripathi, also the chairman of the Nepal Democracy Solidarity Committee India.

Praful Patel, however, said the UPA would continue to get the NCP’s support. “We are in the UPA and will continue to be a part of it in future as an ally,” he said, indicating that NCP may be contemplating outside support.