M A I N   N E W S

Big rejig: 12 fresh faces in Union Cabinet likely
Anand Sharma tipped to be Foreign Minister
Tribune News Service

Soni and Wasnik will be drafted for party work as the Congress organisation is also set to witness substantive changes in the coming days. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi is expected to be given a more defined role in the new set-up. The exercise is aimed at refurbishing the beleaguered UPA government’s image and energising party cadres with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi held last-minute discussions to finalise the names. Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath is expected to get additional charge of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry presently held by P K Bansal. CP Joshi, who currently holds dual charge of the Railways and Surface Transport Ministries, may retain the rail portfolio.

The new team is expected to bear Rahul Gandhi’s stamp as he has been instrumental in ensuring the induction and promotion of younger faces in the Cabinet in an effort to give it a “new and youthful look”. Junior ministers being promoted at Rahul Gandhi’s behest include Jyotiraditya Scindia, a contender for the Corporate Affairs ministry, Sachin Pilot, in line for the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, D Purandeshwari for the Commerce portfolio and Pallam Raju. In keeping with the latest mantra to promote youth, Ajay Maken, Minister of State with Independent charge, is also being elevated and may be given charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Dinshaw Patel, KH Munnyappa and Harish Rawat are also in line for a promotion.

While Shashi Tharoor is said to be on his way back, most likely as Tourism Minister, newcomers who are expected to make an entry into the government, include Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari and Jyoti Mirdha from Rajasthan. Ranee Nara from Assam, Pradeep Balmuchu from Jharkhand and AH Chowdhury from West Bengal are also being accommodated in the new team.

The Andhra Pradesh contingent includes actor-turned politician K.Chiranjeevi, K Suryaprakash Reddy, son of former chief minister K. Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Killi Krupa Rani, Balram Naik and Sarve Satyanarayana. Chiranjeevi who is being rewarded for merging his party with the Congress and saving the Kiran Reddy government, could be given the tourism portfolio. The proposed line-up evoked a strong protest from senior MP Samba Shiva Rao who resigned over his exclusion from the Cabinet. 

Bigger role for Rahul

* Rahul Gandhi to get a more defined role in the new set-up. Soni and Wasnik will now be drafted for party work.

* The exercise is aimed at refurbishing the UPA government’s image and energising party cadres with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections

The contenders

* D Purandeshwari is set to take over Commerce portfolio.

& Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath expected to get additional charge of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry

* Ajay Maken, Dinshaw Patel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, KH Munyiappa and Harish Rawat are in line for a promotion.

* Sibal is likely to retain the Telecom Ministry but could lose the HRD portfolio to Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy.

* Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is said to be in contention for the Petroleum Ministry.

* Shashi Tharoor is said to be on his way back, most likely as Tourism Minister