“Youth Power” in UPA Cabinet: Sisram Ola @ 85

While the Congress is talking about youth power, the older generation is given more priority in the country. The recent cabinet reshuffle would put impact on the youth congress in a big manner. The 85-year-old Congress MP from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu constituency Sisram Ola is among the new faces who were inducted in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet today.

Along with Sisram Ola, senior Congress leaders such as – Manikrao Gavit (78), Oscar Fernandes (72), Girija Vyas (66) and Santosh Chowdhury (68) were sworn-in today. While Girija Vyas, Oscar Fernandes, Sisram Ola and KS Rao from Andhra Pradesh took oath as the Cabinet ministers, Manikrao Gavit, Santosh Chowdhury, EMS Natchiappan were sworn-in as the Ministers of State (MoS).

Sisram Ola got labour and employment portfolio, Oscar Fernandes got road and highways ministry, Girija Vyas was given housing, urban development and poverty alleviation department, the social justice and empowerment was given to Manikrao Gavit, Santosh Chowdhury got health and family welfare, JD Seelam became the MoS finance, EMS Natchiappan got MoS Commerce & Industries.

Born in 1927, Sisram Ola was a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1990, and from 1980 to 1990 he was a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Rajasthan. From 1993 to 1996, he was again a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996. He has received the Padma Shree award in 1968 for social work. With the induction of the older generation leaders in the Cabinet, Congress’ preach to unite youth power appears false.