Ajit Singh lands civil aviation berth

Ajit Singh is set to become a Cabinet minister — for a fourth time, and now at 72. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief from Western Uttar Pradesh will get the civil aviation portfolio later this week when he will be sworn in.
The decision comes in the wake of Singh’s RLD on Monday turning an ally of the Congress in the upcoming crucial assembly elections of his politically-crucial state.
The Meerut-born Jat leader, an engineer-turned-politician, has previously been a minister for industry, food and agriculture — albeit all under different governments: National Front, Congress and the BJP.
Singh’s taking charge of the civil aviation portfolio comes at a time when the ministry is facing crucial challenges: reviving national carrier Air India, deciding on the contentious issue of allowing foreign airlines to invest in the country and widening of losses of airlines across the board. Besides resolving these, he faces the challenge of finding a consensus at the central and state level on a low tax regime for aviation sector.
For one, the MP from Bhagpat stood firm in his demand for a cabinet berth, preferably the agriculture portfolio, in lieu of his support to the Congress. But with NCP’s Sharad Pawar well placed there, Singh will take over as minister of civil aviation — a portfolio that was an additional charge for overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi.
13/12/11 Business Standard

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2011