Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, May 19: Will Nalin Kumar Kateel's second straight victory fetch him a cabinet berth in the Modi-led government? A close confidant of Nalin told daijiworld that the possibility cannot be ruled out.

The close confidant who strongly backed Kateel during his tough times ahead of parliamentary elections, under the condition of anonymity, told daijiwold that Nalin has bright chances of occupying the post of minister of state. His progress card during his last tenure as MP was impressive. He registered the 6th rank among other parliamentarians. He was in the news quite a few days for maximum utilization of MP fund.

According to the confidant, Nalin stunned party's many top leaders with his ecstatic win that set new records for margin of victory. Though the coastal district of DK accommodates three state ministers in the ruling Congress government in the state, he managed to overcome all the hurdles that came his way. This apparently convinced many in the state RSS and the BJP to mull recommending Nalin for post of minister of state. The move also points at an agenda to consolidate Hindutva ideology across the district as Nalin is known to be a staunch follower of RSS.

On the other hand, some sections of the RSS, pointing out his post victory statement that he has no ambitions of holding any portfolio, feel that Nalin may be a bit scared to see himself in the cabinet. It is feared that a faction within the BJP, in all possibility, may hatch a series of political conspiracies against Nalin, which, in case he becomes a minister would humiliate Modi directly. Conspiracies would prove costly and jeopardize Nalin's career as a politician apart from troubling the government, and hence, the RSS and the BJP may well see that prevention is better than cure.