The formation of the BJP Government could have been dismissed as yet another example of the theatre of the absurd that politicians regularly enact, if the issues involved had not been far too serious.

The making of the new Government's Finance Minister was the subject of Act I, which unfolded over a few hours on the night of March 18-19. It raised several important issues relating to the violation of the confidentiality of the process of Cabinet-making and the "extra-constitutional" pressure being brought upon an elected Prime Minister by an organisation such as the RSS, totally outside the pale of political democratic processes. ...

In this entire drama surrounding the making of the Finance Minister, what stood completely exposed was the fact that the Prime Minister was not entirely his own man and certainly not in command of the situation. He had to contend with his allies - that was natural as those parties were also to be part of the government he would be heading. Then, he had to consult his own party president,  L.K. Advani, which was natural and as should be. But, then, he also had to take into the account the "wishes" of the RSS bosses, which he could ignore only at his own peril. And that was exactly what had happened ...

What has also been exposed as hollow during the course of the ministry-making exercise is the BJP claim that it is a disciplined party compared to others. Perhaps, the tussle for ministerial positions was greater in the BJP itself then among its alliance partners - and the tremors created by it may become visible in the form of cracks in the days to come as the party gears up to keep its government going. Its first "task" will be survival, the rest can wait.                                                                                                                      (Source: The Hindu, 22 March, 1998)