Agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who has set off speculation about being divested of one of his portfolios after he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday pleading that his work-load be reduced, has fuelled speculation that PM Manmohan Singh might reshuffle his Cabinet before the ensuing session of Parliament, which is scheduled to begin in the last week of this month.
Mr Pawar is likely to continue with his present responsibilities, but he will get one or two ministers of state (MoS) to oversee three crucial departments of agriculture, food and consumer affairs.
The key vacancy in the external affairs ministry, after Shashi Tharoor's exit in April could be filled by MoS in commerce ministry Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's phone call to LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan to greet him on his 64th birthday on Monday has signalled he could find a place in the Cabinet although sources close to Mr Paswan ruled out the possibility. There are also reports that RLD chief Ajit Singh could find a berth in the Cabinet with the Congress looking at expanding its base among the Jats.
With the Opposition gunning for telecom minister A. Raja accusing him of corruption, the PM and the Congress leadership may take a call on his fate in consultation with DMK chief K. Karunanidhi.
Source: www.deccanchronicle.com Cabinet reshuffle: Raja out, Scindia in?
