PM looks for new Finance Minister, hunt is on

New Delhi: The global economic meltdown is hitting India harder now. Facing a slowdown in the economy, the Prime Minister has asked for a full time Finance Minister.

After P Chidambaram was moved to the Home Ministry, the Congress top brass has begun consultations to select a senior leader for the job.

The Finance Minister who everyone really looked up to to rein India out of the economic crisis, P Chidambaram had to take charge as the country's just as crucial Home Ministry immediately after the Mumbai terror strike.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been taking care of the Finance Ministry ever since, he finds it just as pressing an engagement as running the country's top office in the PMO.

Reports say that Dr Singh is in consultation with UPA chief Sonia Gandhi to acquire an early enough replacement for the Finance Minister's job.

Party leaders are not yet speaking about probable choices, though.

Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan said, "It is really the prerogative of the Prime Minister."

There are a few probables for the post though. Top of the chart is SM Krishna, the glib talker and a former chief minister of Karnataka.

Ever since Krishna was removed from the Governor's job in Maharashtra, he has been kept waiting for a different responsibility.

His seniority in the party, his proximity to 10 Janpath and experience in handling the finance ministry is keeping him ahead of competitors.

Sushil Kumar Shinde, the present power minister is a likely candidate too. His Dalit credentials will be used by the Congress to appease the SC ST vote bank. The move may also help to counter the rapid advance of the BSP.

But the Prime Minister is also believed to be keen in working with a bureaucrat as a Finance Minister.

C Rangarajan, the former RBI governor is believed to be his choice.

Sonia Gandhi though, seems to be in favour of a politician. The UPA may find this as an opportunity to send out a message to the electorate.

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