Why Arun Jaitley is Modi’s ‘Chanakya’

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign slogan may have been Abki baar, Modi sarkar, but, as Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi jocularly told Arun Jaitley in Parliament’s Central Hall, the reality is “Abki baar, Jaitley sarkar”.

Jaitley, 61, is at the centre of politics in New Delhi. The most powerful leader after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he runs two heavyweight ministries – finance and defence – his people are in charge of key portfolios, and he has a big say in policy and political matters.

All party spokespersons flock to him for advice. He is Modi’s ace troubleshooter on almost all issues. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker describes him as Modi’s Chanakya (like Chandragupta’s advisor, Jaitley is a Brahmin).

Environment and Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar calls him a “super strategist”. If somebody knows how to work the levers of power in Raisina Hill it is Jaitley; Modi is still an outsider.

“A precious diamond,” is how Modi described him at an election rally in Amritsar from where Jaitley contested – and lost – his first election ever.

Naturally, Jaitley is busy. His office in North Block is abuzz with activity, which is not surprising because this is Budget time. And expectations are high, though the government’s finances are in a mess.

Please …

Please click here for the Complete Coverage of Budget 2014 -15

Source: Read Full Article