NEW DELHI, May 25 — The Union Council of Ministers will be expanded by the weekend, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, said today.

Mr Vajpayee said this while taking part in a chat on the website of “India Today”.

The Prime Minister said the expansion could involve some economic ministries but it may not affect all political parties in the National Democratic Alliance.

The expansion is expected to take place on Saturday as the President, Mr K R Narayanan, is leaving on an official tour to China on Sunday, the day Mr Vajpayee is scheduled to leave for Himachal Pradesh on holiday.

There are at least three vacancies in the Union Council of Ministers after the resignations of Mr Nitish Kumar of the Samata Party, Mr Naveen Patnaik who resigned after becoming Chief Minister of Orissa and the Sports Minister, Ms Uma Bharti.

Party sources indicated that the former minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj and former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, could be inducted into the Council of Ministers. Ms Bharti is also understood to be keen to be re-inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. She quit after launching an agitation against the M P Chief Minister earlier this year.

There is also pressure from the allies especially Samata Party, to re-induct Mr Nitish Kumar who had resigned from the Union Cabinet after he became Chief Minister of Bihar. Mr Kumar returned to national politics after failing to win the confidence of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

The Prime Minister is understood to have carried out a review of working of his Council of Ministers and some changes may be made on the basis of assessment.

The possibility of a reshuffle of portfolios is not ruled out, party sources said.

Asked about his government’s action plan to fight widespread corruption, Mr Vajpayee said “we are committed to fighting corruption at all levels, whether it is political or economic. There can be no compromise with corruption”.