NEW DELHI, June 29: Indian Home Minister Lal Krishan Advani was appointed on Saturday as the country’s deputy prime minister in an obvious move to consolidate the rightwing Hindutva groups in the fragile ruling coalition, government sources and opposition groups said.

“Advani was working more or less as de facto prime minister, now he has an official cover to de jure function like one,” Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said. “This is of a piece with the modification of the country,” he said, in a reference to the rule of Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat.

A communique from President K.R. Narayanan’s office said: “The President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has directed that Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, will be designated as deputy prime minister. He will continue to look after the Ministry of Home Affairs”.

Mr Advani, speaking to Aaj Tak news channel over the phone, said that he had the responsibility, but it was only now that he had been formally appointed as the deputy prime minister. Meanwhile, reacting to the appointment, Congress spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said: “It is not a promotion of Advani, but a demotion of Vajpayee.”

Advani’s designation as deputy prime minister comes as a part of revamping of the Union Cabinet being undertaken by the prime minister along with a shake up in the party hierarchy.

There were strong indications that External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, regarded as too cozy with the West would be swapped with Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, a perpetual scapegoat-in-waiting with the rightwing Hindu groups. A full cabinet reshuffle is scheduled on Monday.

With his appointment, Advani becomes the seventh leader in India to be given the post of deputy prime minister, which however finds no mention in the Constitution. Vajpayee has revived the practice after a gap of 12 years.

Advani’s appointment came with major changes expected in the Bharatiya Janata Party whereby BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy is expected to be brought into the cabinet. Some BJP ministers including Venkaiah Naidu, a party president hopeful and Arun Jaitley are expected to be sent on party assignment.

The appointment came also with remarks from a hardliner that the temple row in Ayodhya would be revived as a major issue.

Vinay Katiyar, the newly appointed president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP, on Saturday visited Ayodhya and declared that his elevation as state unit chief sends a clear signal.—JN