A MINISTER REBELS

Crisis brings understanding.

- Rahul Noronha

The ruling BJP has tamped down on the row emanating from a minister’s rebellion, but it has left it acutely aware of the price it is paying for favouring defectors over party loyals. The story began in a mundane manner: on July 21, Ramniwas Rawat, a six-term Congress MLA who had switched to the BJP before the Lok Sabha election, was allotted the forests and environment portfolio in the Mohan Yadav cabinet. It was a reward for delivering Morena—the Lok Sabha seat where the BJP was faced with a tough fight. So far, so normal.