11 July 2011

Cabinet reshuffle deferred by a day


 The much awaited cabinet reshuffle has been put off by a day. The sources, however, told CNN-IBN that it's unlikely that the top four in the Government would be disturbed.
The Defence, Finance, Home and Foreign ministers are likely to stay on the course, but the Corporate Affairs Miniter Murli Deora has already asked to be relieved of his duties.
With elections round the corner in Uttar Pradesh, Salman Khursheed, the Congress' minority face, could get a portfolio up-gradation. MoS Beni Verma would also be hoping to be made a Cabinet minister.
"It's the Prime Minister's prerogative to decide what work he wants a minister to do," said Congress Spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed.
Of the allies, DMK will take a call on nominating fresh faces to the cabinet only after its general council meet later this month, while Mamata Banerjee could nominate either Dinesh Trivedi or Mukul Roy as her successor in the Railway Ministry.
However, the Congress has refused to accommodate Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was lobbying hard for a Cabinet berth.
Ajit Singh, who was bargaining for a ministership in exchange for a Cabinet portfolio, may also have to wait a little longer.
As for the Opposition, its demands are clear - they want the Prime Minister to drop two ministers - P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal - for their handling of the 2G case.
"The nation wants to know, if the ministers, who have now been dragged into the 2G spectrum scam like P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal will be asked to go as the ministers in the impeding Cabinet reshuffle," said BJP Spokesperson Shahnavaaz Hussain.
The Congress is especially worried about some social sector ministries, which have failed to send across a positive message to the aam admi. The Prime Minister may also have to take a long hard look at some infrastructure related portfolios like power and surface transport that are lagging behind as per their planned expenditure and planning.

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