Union Cabinet reshuffle likely next week
MPCC urges for a state berth
Source: Hueiyen News Service

New Delhi, July 09 2011: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday to discuss a likely cabinet reshuffle next week, party sources said.

It was their third meeting in three weeks.

"The reshuffle is likely next week, may be as early as Monday," said a Congress leader.

The two leaders are learnt to have discussed the reshuffle at Saturday's meeting.

With Dayanidhi Maran resigning on Thursday as textiles minister, a cabinet reshuffle has become further necessary, the party sources said.

Meanwhile Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaikhangam in an exclusive interview with Hueiyen Lanpao expressed his desire for a berth for one of the three MPs from the state.

When asked if MPCC had ever asked AICC for a berth of the state MPs, Gaikhangam denied to disclose the matter.

According to a source from the MPCC, state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi had earlier urged the Prime Minister Manmohan and AICC President Sonia Gandhi for a berth for one of the three MPs from state and there are high possibilities of the proposal being accepted.

President Pratibha Patil returned to Delhi Friday after a week-long stay in Andhra Pradesh and the government can now effect the reshuffle any time.

In his recent interaction with print editors, Singh had said the the reshuffle of the Cabinet was a "work in progress" .

There are a number of vacancies in the Union Cabinet like Railways, following resignation of Mamata Banerjee who became West Bengal chief minister, and Textiles in the wake of Dayanidhi Maran's resignation on the 2G issue.

There are a number of ministers holding dual charge like Kapil Sibal who has Telecom and HRD.

P K Bansal handles portfolios of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Parliamentary Affairs.

Elevation of some of the ministers particularly from Uttar Pradesh which is goes to polls next year is expected.

There is also possibility of dropping some ministers considered to be non-performing.

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