06-05-2004, 04:57 AM
<b>Sonia chief of National Advisory Council</b>
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 4
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was today named Chairperson of the National Advisory Council to monitor the implementation of the UPA government's common minimum programme (CMP). She will be given the rank and status of a Cabinet minister.
In addition, a separate office will be set up for the Congress leader. <b>In view of Ms Gandhi's security cover the Centre is planning to locate the office in the Vigyan Bhavan annexe, it is learnt</b>. <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
A notification to this effect was issued by the Cabinet secretariat today, it was officially stated.
The decision to set up the council was taken at the UPA government's first Cabinet meeting. The council would include representatives of the alliance partners.
It is not clear how this proposed council will function and, more importantly, how it will interface with the government. <b>It will, nevertheless, attract the charge from the Opposition that Ms Gandhi is emerging as an extra-constitutional authority in the new government.</b>
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 4
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was today named Chairperson of the National Advisory Council to monitor the implementation of the UPA government's common minimum programme (CMP). She will be given the rank and status of a Cabinet minister.
In addition, a separate office will be set up for the Congress leader. <b>In view of Ms Gandhi's security cover the Centre is planning to locate the office in the Vigyan Bhavan annexe, it is learnt</b>. <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
A notification to this effect was issued by the Cabinet secretariat today, it was officially stated.
The decision to set up the council was taken at the UPA government's first Cabinet meeting. The council would include representatives of the alliance partners.
It is not clear how this proposed council will function and, more importantly, how it will interface with the government. <b>It will, nevertheless, attract the charge from the Opposition that Ms Gandhi is emerging as an extra-constitutional authority in the new government.</b>