BJP says Sonia will now directly control the government

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday criticised the move to revive the National Advisory Council (NAC) with Congress president Sonia Gandhi as its chairperson. The party said it would legitimise her “direct control” over government policies.

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that so far Ms. Gandhi had the “remote control” over the Manmohan Singh-led government in her hand. “Henceforth it would be direct control.”

BJP spokespersons were criticising the move to give Ms. Gandhi Cabinet status although some party leaders confirmed that a few months ago the party sent a suggestion to the government that Ms. Gandhi be given Cabinet status as the United Progressive Alliance chairperson “and the same privilege be extended to the working chairman of the National Democratic Alliance , that is, L.K. Advani,” who no longer gets Cabinet status since he was “persuaded” to give up his position as the Leader of the Opposition to enable the generational change in party leadership as desired by the RSS.

Another party spokesperson, Tarun Vijay, said the creation of the NAC with Ms. Gandhi at its head would create a “sense of a parallel governance mechanism” and “undermine the authority of the Prime Minister.” Even without this office there was a perception that she was the real power centre, and now with this office that view would gather strength.