Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers M.K. Alagiri has written to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh requesting him to replace MoS Jena with his confidant D. Napoleon, who is currently MoS in the ministry of social justice and empowerment.
But Dr Singh and the Congress high command are reportedly not in favour of having two people from the same party in one ministry. Srikant Jena refused to comment about it.
Sources said the Madurai strongman has favoured Napoleon, as he is part of the Alagiri camp in the DMK. Sources said Alagiri felt that he was being ignored by his MoS and was not giving him the due importance of a Cabinet minister.
The DMK’s organisational secretary for the southern region reportedly is upset with his junior for not consulting him on issues pertaining to the ministry.
Also, it is Srikant Jena who answers all queries related to the ministry in both Houses of Parliament, as Alagiri is not comfortable speaking in English. He is not conversant in Hindi either.
Parliamentary rules stipulate that ministers articulate their views either in English or in Hindi. Only MPs are free to deliver their speech or pose questions in a language of their choice.