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Vajpayee berths Sahib in his Cabinet

Delhi's former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma has accepted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's offer to join the Union Cabinet.

He has, however, requested Vajpayee that he be given time till the Delhi assembly elections are over to take oath.

Addressing a crowded press conference in New Delhi, Sahib Singh said he received the prime minister's letter, which informed him that his swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday, this morning. Later in the day, he met Vajpayee and handed him a letter requesting that the oath-taking be deferred.

"I will take the oath of office after first ensuring that Mrs Sushma Swaraj, who has been already projected as chief minister, takes oath of office on November 30. At present, our only objective is to ensure a magnificent victory for the BJP. This is my only resolve as a swayamsevak of the Sangh. Till one reaches the goal, the traveller cannot relax," Verma's letter said.

Denying that this was a "pre-election gimmick", Verma said if he were to join the Union Cabinet at this stage, he would not be able to do anything for the party in the assembly elections.

"I want to devote my full time to the elections in Delhi. A magnificent win in Delhi will strengthen the post that you are occupying and increase its prestige and dignity. That is my only objective at present," he quoted from his letter.

Verma said the prime minister became extremely emotional on hearing his request: "He got up from his chair and, with tears in his eyes, hugged me and said he respected my feelings and was proud of me.''

Asked if his decision was prompted by opposition to his induction by a faction within the BJP and allies, Verma said the offer was made to him only after getting the ''approval'' of allies like Jayalalitha Jayaram of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Surjit Singh Barnala of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

As for internal opposition, he said if he had any ill will towards any party leader, he would not have taken such a decision -- instead, he would have promptly accepted the offer.

Refusing to commit himself on whether he would contest the forthcoming election, Verma said, "I will consider that only when I am made the offer."

UNI

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