Cabinet reshuffle expected on Sunday

     New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had a nearly four-and-a-half-hour long meeting on Saturday to decide on the much awaited reshuffle of the Union Cabinet. Informed sources at the Prime Minister's residence said that more or less the names of the people were short-listed for the reshuffle exercise. Earlier, Sonia drove to the Prime Minister's official residence accompanied by her political secretary Ahmad Patel and official sources said that Singh has lined up a number of meetings during the day in connection with the exercise.

   Sources said the exercise could be mainly to fill existing vacancies. As of now, there are about half a dozen vacancies in the Manmohan Singh ministry arising from the resignation of External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, the demise of Power Minister PM Sayeed and Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sunil Dutt. The appointment of Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and K Rahman Khan as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, has also thrown up more vacant slots. Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, and 1984 anti Sikh Riots accused Jagdish Tytler's resignation from the Union Cabinet following the Justice Nanavati Commission's report has added to the list of Cabinet vacancies. With Parliament session being advanced to February 16 and President A P J Abdul Kalam leaving on a three-nation 10-day foreign tour on January 31, Sunday is the likely day for carrying out the Cabinet expansion and reshuffle exercise. As the President returns from Seoul on February nine, new ministers would hardly have time to prepare themselves for the three-month budget session if the expansion is undertaken then.

    Karan Singh, who took oath today after being re-elected unopposed for the Rajya Sabha, may make it to the Union Cabinet expansion on Sunday. Karan Singh, like External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, is considered close to Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and was lately seen accompanying her in high profile meetings with international dignitaries and delegations. Dr. Singh is believed to be a front-runner for the post of External Affairs Minister. On being asked about his priorities as the next External Affairs Minister, he said: "It is a very hypothetical question". Dr. Singh who is also the chairman of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) took oath as a Rajya Sabha member this morning. Earlier, there were speculations that Dr. Karan Singh could be nominated from Jammu and Kashmir quota that was vacated following Ghulam Nabi Azad's election as the new Chief Minister of Kashmir, but was then finally elected unopposed from Delhi. There are speculations of Karan Singh's name in the expansion of 20 month-old Congress led United Progressive Alliance government. Seven vacancies, including five in the Cabinet, have arisen following resignations or death of Ministers in the past one- year. Last year, then External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh was forced to resign following reports that he had received favours from Saddam Hussein as revealed in an UN report released late last year.

   According to sources, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Ambika Soni is likely to get the portfolio of Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Prithviraj Chauhan is expected to get the Ministry of Power or Science and Technology and with incumbent Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal (Sibbal) likely to get Power or Petroleum Ministry. It is however, not known which Ministry, incumbent Petroleum and Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar will be allotted. The other probables include Kerala strongman Vayalar Ravi, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren, who quit the Union Cabinet, March last year. Soren is likely to get back the Coal Ministry. Other names doing the rounds are GK Vasan, TNCC President and son of late Congress veteran GK Moopanar, Mohsina Kidwai, Murli Devra and Saiffuddin Soz. Delhi MP Ajay Maken is also expected to find berth as a Minister of State. However, there would be no change in Home, Defence, Law and Finance Ministries. Reports said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has already sent the Cabinet reshuffle list to President APJ Abdul Kalam for consideration.

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