Speculations about Cabinet reshuffle has begun in the Congress circles following a meeting between the party chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday. Though, highly-placed sources made it clear that they have no idea about it, insiders said Cabinet reshuffle will take place before Mrs Gandhi reconstitute her team in the AICC and nominate members to the working committee.
“New ministers should get at least a month’s time to study their new portfolios before the Budget Session next month,” they said.
While this exercise could confine to the Congress members, the allies especially the DMK, the TMC and the NCP are in no mood to bargain for the key portfolios. Significantly, the DMK is not even asking for the telecom ministry given to it as per the power sharing arrangement between the Congress and its allies following Mr A. Raja’s resignation on the 2G spectrum allocation controversy.
A second rung in the Congress is aspiring for a Cabinet berth after working in the organisation for long-time while the juniors are optimistic of getting a Cabinet rank. A Cabinet reshuffle could take place any time after January 14, they said.