Timeline Refresh
Backward classes in Andhra Pradesh have got a raw deal in today's expansion of Union Council of Ministers, Telugu Desam Chief N Chandrababu Naidu said.
"Backward classes are in large numbers in Andhra Pradesh. They (Centre) gave berth to only one backward class woman. Backward classes should have been given three or four berths. TDP has announced that it will give 100 seats to backward classes in assembly elections," he said during his ongoing 'padayatra' in Mahabubnagar district.
Naidu said his party would leave no stone unturned to turn agriculture into a profitable profession for farmers by getting them a satisfactory price for their produce.
Samajwadi Party today said those facing corruption charges have been inducted into the Union Council of Ministers.
"The UPA government stands exposed after the expansion," SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said while reacting to the ministerial rejig at the Centre.
Speaking to reporters at Bareily, Yadav said those involved in illegal activities and corrupt practices had no place in the party and strict action would be taken against such persons.
"Such people are being identified and disciplinary action has been initiated against them," he said.
"No single individual can change the language of national discourse. I am under no illusion that I alone will be able to change the nature of national discourse. "All stakeholders will have to take steps to move up to that trajectory," Tewari said when asked about the criticism of "bad press" being faced by the UPA-II and his plan of action to change it.
Vehemently denying any plan to curb media, Tewari, who is also the spokesperson of Congress, said, "I believe self regulation is the best regulation."
To a question as to how smooth he foresees his stint at I&B Minister, he said, "That will depend on how much cooperation I get from the media as I have got as a spokesperson of Congress." He also added in a lighter vein that he will try not to be mercurial.
After his appointment as the Union Minister, Tewari came to the Congress headquarters and met senior leaders including AICC general secretary and media department in-charge Janardan Dwivedi. #cabinetreshuffle
@ShashiTharoor: Thanks to all for your kind words of support & congratulation.Your encouragement strengthens me all the more in my determination to do my best.
The 'well-travelled' (that's what the site says) is related to former President Dr Zakir Hussain. He has been educated at Delhi's prestigious St Stephen's College and at the Oxford University.
"My priority is to improve the health of the ministry both physical and financial," Bansal said here after being given the responsibility of crucial infrastructure ministry.
Asked whether he will go in for a fare hike, Bansal said the task of improving the financial health is a larger exercise. "It has to be a larger exercise. It does not have to confine to just increasing fares or freight...That is not the only factor on what the physical or financial health will depend upon," he said.
"Laws are already in place and the investigations, whatever under the ministry, will be done in a transparent fashion with no biases and full sincerity," Pilot said urs after being shown as Minister Of State (Independent charge) for Corporate Affairs.
He said the ministry will be open to discussions with the corporate world, individuals and all other stakeholders. "We will find the best way in moving ahead," Pilot said. The MCA acts as the nodal ministry for bodies like Registrars of Companies, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and Competition Commission of India (CCI), which are mandate to regulate entire corporate sectors.
The ministry recently launched a probe to trace the source of funding for Maharashtra-based Purti Power and Sugar Ltd (PPSL), run by BJP President Nitin Gadkari's firm.
"The winter session of Parliament is commencing from November 22. I will tell Mamata Banerjee that If she has guts, let her party bring a no-confidence motion in the House and see which party stands here. Congress is not afraid to face the election," Chowdhury said.
With no love lost between him and Mamata, Chowdhury, who is MoS Railways, quoting the Prime Minister said that elections would be held in due course as the mandate of the people was that UPA should complete its full five-year term.
Chowdhury, who singled out Mamata for criticism as a former Railway minister, said, "It will take a number of railway budgets to implement the series of announcements made by her during her tenure in the Railway ministry. "Everything was on paper. She has announced projects without making adequate monetary provisions. She was a failure as a railway minister," Chowdhury claimed.
Shashi Tharoor, who has made a come back in the Union Ministry as Minister of State for HRD, today expressed his eagerness to make a significant contribution in the key department. Tharoor had to quit as MoS External Affairs in April 2010 in the wake of allegations of wrongdoing in buying stakes in an IPL team.
He said "We have 545 million under the age of 25. We have got to give them a future and clearly the ministry has a lot to do with that. Even if the time span of this parliament is only a year and half, we are very confident we can make a
significant contribution during the time."
On becoming a minister again, he said "I am very grateful to be part of the team. I am grateful for the confidence that has been placed on me. I came back to India after a long time away in order to take contribution to our country."
On his priorities in the new ministry, he said the "world has changed a lot since I was last in MEA. Dramatic changes have taken place and foreign affairs has shifted greatly towards economic and security issues. Khurshid was Minister of the State in the MEA from 1993 to 1996.
Cross Border terrorism has changed in truly intricate ways and world has become a village. Our international profile has changed, engagement with word has changed many dimensions."
The Minister was briefed for nearly an hour by the MEA officials, including Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai on the meetings scheduled for next couple of days that include parleys with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khalida Zia and conference of Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) to be attended by 10 Foreign Ministers.
"The Prime Minister and Congress President have placed a very very important responsibility on my shoulders. It will be my endevour to ensure that I live up to their very high standards," Khurshid, 59-year-old lawyer by training, said after taking over from his predecessor S M Krishna at South Block.
Anwar has been made Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries. It was expected that the Congress leadership would induct someone from the state to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of senior party leader Vilasrao Deshmukh in August. However, the portfolio held by Deshmukh at the time of his death, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, has been given to S Jaipal Reddy.
Congress leader from Vidarbha Mukul Wasnik, who held the portfolio of Social Justice, resigned yesterday. Maharashtra has seven representatives in the Council of Ministers, including those of Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the Congress ally at the Centre and in the state.
On Saturday, a day after SM Krishna put in his papers as union foreign minister, he said, "The flavour of the season is that youngsters must take over the reins of responsibility", but hastened to debunk suggestions of sarcasm by adding that he was gladdened by the turn of events.
Krishna, suave as ever and careful about his words, today said his time as external affairs minister was up. Krishna, 80, said demographic changes in India with "60 to 70 per cent population" being below 35-years meant that "senior citizens like me should make way". Read
The UPA's former ally Trinamool Congress, which pulled out of Manmohan Singh government last month, had a different take, saying the three Congress leaders chosen as ministers of state from West Bengal were there only to 'needle' the party. It also said West Bengal was deprived of adequate ministerial representation.
BJP's ally Akali Dal said it is the "same old wine in new bottle".
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "This reshuffle was lacklustre. It will not do any good to the country or even to the Congress party. It was expected that young blood will be given more representation in the Cabinet but this has not been done.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has only given the young leaders Minister of State status. The average age of the Cabinet has not come down much though it was being talked about," he said.
"We are disappointed, but definitely not disheartened and we will continue to work with more vigour to strengthen Congress in the state," he added. Coming out in defence of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, amid a row over deals between him and DLF, Singh said "he (Vadra) has not done anything wrong and nothing was also found against him in the probe conducted by the Haryana government."
Singh alleged that in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP was protecting Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the alleged dumper scam, in which he had given "fake address".
According to the case, dumpers had been allegedly leased out to a private company by not providing correct address and on fictitious names.
Read
"There are a total 22 new appointments, of which seven are Cabinet Ministers. This is called a big change, a meaningful change.. when a big change takes place, it is expected that it will improve the functioning of the government.
"The reshuffle has given representation to both the old and experienced people as well as the young and new faces," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.
He also dismissed contentions that some people have been ignored in the exercise, saying it is wrong to presume that anybody has been ignored if some people continue working in the party or some in the government have quit to work for the party as the party is a "big ocean" which accommodates all.
Shashi Tharoor, who made a comeback in the government, was seen greeted by one and many as he and his wife Sunanda Pushkar gracefully acknowledged the greetings.
Pushkar was also seen chatting with National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon among others before the swearing-in ceremony and clicked pictures using her mobile phone as Tharoor walked up to the podium to take oath of office and secrecy.
Krishna, suave as ever and careful about his words, today said his time as external affairs minister was up. Krishna, 80, said demographic changes in India with "60 to 70 per cent population" being below 35-years meant that "senior citizens like me should make way". More on the Telegraph.
The complete list of ministers in the cabinet
"My priorities will be to ensure that there is proper electric supply. Both the government and private electric companies must work in tandem for the united goal of the country's progress," Scindia said.
He takes over the reins of the power ministry at a time when the sector is grappling with acute fuel shortages besides environmental hurdles, which are also hurting electricity generation in the country.
"I will also try to ensure coordination with coal and environment ministries," Scindia said. "As part of the central government's vision, I will try to make sure that the remote areas of the country get power supply. I will try to ensure growth in the sector," he noted. Read
"Kapil Sibalji has done a lot of good work and I think that needs to be carried forward," Raju said following his evalation as a Cabinet minister. Raju, who was MoS in the Defence Ministry, takes charges of the HRD Ministry at a time when a host of legislation related to reforms in higher education sector are pending in Parliament.
"I think, both in UPA I and II, we had the largest contribution of MPs from Andhra Pradesh and I think people of Andhra Pradesh were also feeling let down on the issue of adequate representation. Now its been rectified. We are grateful to Soniaji and the Prime Minister for rectifying that," he said.
Raju is one of six new faces from Andhra Pradesh.
Newly appointed Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat said the reshuffle was being done keeping in mind the 2014 parliamentary elections. "The reshuffle will definitely have a good impact because such exercises are conducted after a long thought process and various permutations and combinations are kept in mind. The responsibility and challenges of elections cannot be undermined, also the responsibility to carry forward the work of the Prime Minister," said Rawat.
New Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said the reshuffle would alter the view that the government was attracting negative publicity, and hoped this view would be nullified. "It is important for every government and every party to work towards their image building. The main focus of image building is to fulfill all those promises made to the common man, and I can vouch for our UPA Government, that it has fulfilled all the promises made to the people. All this negative publicity needs to be changed and we should go to the people," said Khan.
Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge) Jyotiraditya Scindia said: "We have given the responsibility and now it is our job to stand up to those responsibilities and expectations through hard work. I want to thank the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for giving us youngsters this opportunity, me this opportunity, and now, we need to live up to those expectations," said Scindia.
Shashi Tharoor made a comeback as Minister of State for Human Resource Development. Tharoor, who was earlier the Minister of State for External Affairs, was seen with his wife, Sunanda Pushkar, offering prayers to the idol of Lord Shiva before leaving for Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential residence, to take his oath of office.
Tell us what you think of the Cabinet reshuffle here
"It is a new experience for me. I have worked in the alliance for a long time but it is good and I hope that whatever portfolio is given by our Prime Minister and Congress party chief, I will perform with full devotion after taking (ministerial) responsibility," said Anwar.
Anwar replaces NCP's Agatha Sangma and is only a minister of state, despite his seniority. Obviously shows this is an all out Cong reshuffle.
"I am very happy that Congress President, Prime Minister, and Rahulji all three of them have given me another opportunity to perform at much higher level. So, I am extremely grateful to them for the confidence that they have posed on me and I will work, in whichever portfolio I am allocated, with full dedication and honesty," said Maken. Maken also mentioned that through this reshuffle a chance was being given to younger leaders to perform.
"It's an opportunity for us. I am not so young but still comparatively younger. People like us have been given opportunity, so I think; now we should perform and we should show our countrymen that comparatively younger people when given an opportunity they perform," said Maken.
Ajay Maken is also distantly related to the former President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, says Wikipedia. Ajay Maken's uncle Lalit Maken was married to Dr Sharma's daughter Gitanjali. Geethanjali and Lalit Maken were killed by Sikh Militants in 1985.
Carl Bildt @carlbildt Happy to see that my friend @ShashiTharoor is back in the government of India. He has much to contribute.
Bildt is the foreign minister of Sweden since 2006.
Though a first time MP, AICC spokesperson Tewari has a long association of nearly 31 years with Congress since joining its youth wing in 1981.
The 47-year-old leader was seen as a strong defence line of the Congress in JPC on 2G to counter BJP onslaught. Tewari, who was the president of Indian Youth Congress from 1998 to 2000, lost the 2004 Lok Sabha polls but successfully contested the 2009 general elections from Ludhiana by defeating Shiromani Akali Dal's candidate Gurcharan Singh Galib by a margin of over one lakh votes.
During his pre-university days, he joined youth wing of Congress and rose to become its All India Youth President before becoming the Secretary of AICC and was appointed as its Spokesperson in 2008.
Tewari comes from an eminent Punjabi family. His father V N Tewari, a professor of Punjab University, was part of the freedom movement and was killed by terrorists in 1984, few months before Operation Blue Star. Tewari's grandfather Sardar Tirath Singh too was an advocate and Minister in the Congress Government in Punjab.
"This exercise would prove futile. What the country needed at this crucial juncture was some revolutionary changes in policies in the interests of the common man and not political gimmicks or jugglery of sorts to befool the aam adami (common man)," Badal said.
He claimed the exercise would in no way improve the image of the Congress led UPA government. "It is a face saving exercise, which is not going to help the Congress. It will hardly make any difference as writing is on the wall that the Congress would be routed out from the political map of the country in the next Lok Sabha elections," Badal said
By making Salman Khurshid the external affairs minister, the government has shown that the cards are in its hands, never mind the Khurshid's momentary 'replace ink with blood' drama.
Cabinet Ministers
Vayalar Ravi: Overseas Indian Affairs
Kapil Sibal: Communications & Information Technology
CP Joshi: Road Transport & Highways
Kumari Selja: Social Justice & Empowerment
Pawan Kumar Bansal: Railways
Salman Khursheed: External Affairs
Jairam Ramesh: Rural Development
M Veerappa Moily: Petroleum & Natural Gas:
S Jaipal Reddy: Science & Technology and Earth Sciences
Kamal Nath: Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs
K. Rahman Khan: Minority AffairsDinsha
J. Patel: Mines
Ajay Maken: Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation
MM Pallam Raju: Human Resource Development
Ashwani Kumar: Law & Justice
Harish Rawat: Water Resources
Chandresh Kumari Katoch: Culture
Ministers of State with independent charge
Manish Tewari: Information & Broadcasting
Dr. K. Chiranjeevi: Tourism
Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia: Power
K.H. Muniappa: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki: Drinking Water & Sanitation
Sachin Pilot: Corporate Affairs
Jitendra Singh: Youth Affairs & Sports
Ministers of state
Dr. Shashi Tharoor: Human Resource Development
Kodikunnil Suresh: Labour & Employment
Tariq Anwar: Agriculture & Food Processing Industries
KJ Surya Prakash Reddy: Railways
Ranee Narah: Tribal Affairs
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: Railways
AH Khan Choudhury: Health & Family Welfare
Sarvey Sathyanarayana: Road Transport & Highways
Ninong Ering: Minority Affairs
Deepa Dasmunsi: Urban Development
Porika Balram Naik: Social Justice & Empowerment
Dr.(Smt.) Kruparani Killi: Communications & Information Technology
Lalchand Kataria: Defence
E. Ahamed: External Affairs
D. Purandeswari: Commerce & Industry
Jitin Prasada: Defence & Human Resource Development
Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan: New & Renewable Energy
R.P.N. Singh: Home
K.C. Venugopal: Civil Aviation
Rajeev Shukla: Parliamentary Affairs & Planning.
Chiranjeevi was sworn in as minister of state (independent charge) for tourism.
Twenty-two ministers took oath today, with 17 new faces being inducted.
@Maheshbhupathi Good Bye @ajaymaken. You have set the bar. Hope the next in line follow through. Indian sport will forever be grateful!!
While Andhra Pradesh has six new faces, West Bengal will have three more representatives.
The reshuffle move appears to be aimed at countering the Telangana statehood issue, the political threat from the YSR Congress and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee who pulled out of the UPA following differences over economic reforms. Today's reshuffle of cabinet could help the government get over criticism of inertia in policy-making.
Deepa Dasmushi: MoS Urban Development
CP Joshi: Road Transport and Highways
Ninong Ering: MoS Tribal Affairs
And more of the new portfolios..
Kamal Nath Addl Charge of Parliamentary Affairs
Jitin Prasada MoS Defence and HRD
Sathyanarayana: MoS Highways
Lalchand Kataria: MoS Defence
Shashi Tharoor MoS HRD
Kumari Selja is the new Social Justice Minister
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is MoS Railways
Balram Naik MoS Social Justice
Jitendra Singh MoS Sports
K Suresh MoS Labour and Employment
Jaipal Reddy made Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences
@ajaymaken Besides my Leaders, I owe my elevation to Sportspersons, their coaches and Sports-Journalists! Thanks! It was a great experience!
This is Shashi Tharoor's statement to NDTV just after he was sworn in. "I am very honored to be given the chance.Our government is committed to delivering. The time we have is less but we will deliver, but it is an important portfolio (HRD) as we have many young people in the country. We have to help them realise their aspirations."
Speaking on the IPL controversy, he said, "The controversies were created more by the media , the whole IPL issue behind me for several years now."
Tharoor made a comeback as Minister of State after over two years.
Salman Khurshid is the new External Affairs Minister,
Ashwani Kumar gets Law Ministry,
K Rahman Khan made Minority Affairs Minister,
Ajay Maken is Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Dinsha Patel promoted as Cabinet Minister in Mines Ministry,
Pallam Raju upgraded and made HRD Minister.
Manish Tewari gets Information and Broadcasting.
Jyotiraditya Scindia: gets the Power ministry
Sachin Pilot: gets Corporate Affairs
Harish Rawat made Water Resources Minister
Chandresh Kumari is the new Culture Minister
Veerappa Moily: gets the petroleum ministry, moved from corporate affairs.
This is the first official list of the new portfolios.
"I don't see early elections. Elections will be held in due course," he told reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhawan after the swearing-in ceremony. Asked whether this would be the last reshuffle, he said: "Hopefully, probably this is the last reshuffle."
Asked what was the message from today's exercise, he said it is a combination of youth, experience and relevance of portfolios. What is the road ahead? he was asked.
The Prime Minister replied that the road ahead is full of challenges. To a question about the proposal to move some people from Government to party, he said: "The party also needs men and women of experience to strengthen it. They will be equally productive in the party."
The statement comes in the wake of three Bengal MPs, all vociferously anti-Mamata, being sworn-in today. They include A H Khan Chowdhry, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry and Deepa Dasmunshi.
The BJP, meanwhile, says that the reshuffle will not help.
The PM adds another statement on Rahul Gandhi, that he always wanted him in the cabinet, but it has been Rahul's decision to stay out as he wants to strengthen the party.
Five Ministers of State -- Dinsha Patel, M M Pallam Raju, Harish Rawat, Ajay Maken and Ashwani Kumar -- were promoted to Cabinet rank.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari and actor-turned- politician Chiranjeevi were brought in as Ministers of State with independent charge, while Shashi Tharoor made a comeback as Minister of State after over two years.
12 new Ministers of State were sworn-in. They are Tariq Anwar (Maharashtra), K Suresh (Kerala), A H Khan Chowdhry, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry and Deepa Dasmunshi, (West Bengal), S Satyanarayana, K Jayasuyraprakash Reddy, P Balram Naik, and Killi Kriparani (Andhra Pradesh). Lalchand Kataria (Rajasthan), Ranee Narah (Assam) and Ninong Ering (Arunachal Pradesh) are the others who were sworn-in as MoS.
Ajay Maken, meanwhile, says he is very happy that he has been given another opportunity to perform at a higher level and thanks the PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Maken has been elevated from MoS (Independent charge) to a full rank cabinet minister. He is likely to be information and broadcasting minister.
Here's the list of who has been sworn in.
Cabinet: K Rahman Khan, Dinshaw Patel, Ajay Maken, Pallam Raju, Ashwani Kumar, Harish Rawat and Chandresh Kumari Katoch.
Minister of State, Independent charge: Manish Tewari and K Chieranjeevi Minister of State: Shashi Tharoor, Kodi Kunil Suresh, Tariq Anwar, K Jayasurya Prakash Reddy, Rani Nara, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry, A H Khan Chowdhry, S Satyanarayana, Ninong Ering, Deepa Dasmunshi, Porika Balaram Naik, Dr Smt Krupa Ravi Killi and Lalchand Kataria.
So, three MoS from West Bengal replacing the Trinamool factor and five from AP.
K Killi being sworn in. She is a first time MP from Andhra Pradesh. #cabinetreshuffle
Lalchand Kataria being sworn in.
Ninong Ering being sworn in. He represents Arunachal Pradesh and was a deputy speaker of the AP Assembly.
Deepa Dasmunshi being sworn in. She is a strong anti-Mamata leader from West Bengal and is the wife of Priyranjan Dasmunshi, who has been in a coma for over four years. She is likely to be MoS Culture.
AH Khan Chowdhury being sworn in. Another message for Ms Banerjee -- The UPA 2 is doing quite well without her support, thank you. He is the brother of Ghani Khan Chowdhury, not his son.
NCP's Tariq Anwar being sworn in. He will replace NCP's Agatha Sangma and is likely to be only a minister of state, despite his seniority. Obviously shows this is an all out Cong reshuffle.
And the big comeback-- Shashi Tharoor being sworn in. Possibly the most articulate member of the government. He will become a minister of state. He used to be the UN undersecretary general and narrowly lost to Ban Ki Moon.
Chandresh Kumari Katoch being sworn in, representing Rajasthan and is from Himachan Pradesh. Likely to get Social Justice.
Minister of State, Independent charge, Manish Tiwari sworn in. The most oft-seen face on TV as the Congress spokesperson.
Harish Rawat, MoS Agriculture, being sworn in. He is a RS MP from Uttarakhand.
Pallam Raju sworn in. He was MoS defence.
Ashwani Kumar sworn in.
Dinsha Patel being sworn in now. He becomes a cabinet minister now, he is a five-time member from the Gujarat Assembly.
Ajay Maken, Pallam Raju, Harish Rawat, Dinsha Patel, Ashwani KumarMinisters of state: Shashi Tharoor, Kodikunnil Suresh, Tariq Anwar, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury , Sarve Satyanarayana, Ninong Ering, Deepa Dasmunsi, Porika Balram Naik, Dr Smt Kruparani Killi and Lalchand Kataria.Minister of state with independent charge: Manish Tewari, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Chiranjeevi. Ering is the first Buddhist minister in a long time.
Another update ... Harish Rawat who is now the MoS Agriculture is likely to get health.
MPs from Bengal who have been called for the swearing-in ceremony:
Abu Hasem Khan Choudhary , MP from South Malda. He is the son of the stalwart of Malda, the late Ghani Khan Chowdhury and a minister of railways in Indira Gandhi's cabinet.
Deepa Dasmunshi MP from Raiganj
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. MP from Berhampore, reports NDTV.
Chandresh Katoch likely to social justice.
Either Manish Tiwari or Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to get corporate affairs.
Remember, Shashi Tharoor is making a comeback to the ministry two years after his departure over the IPL controversy.
Sachin Pilot may get sports.
As we told you earlier, Salman Khurshid is more than likely to get the external affairs ministry, which in effect is a message to Arvind Kejriwal and the IAC team that they really don't give a fig about his allegations.
Deepa Das Munshi to get ministry of culture.
Salman Khurshid is set to be the next Minister for External Affairs, taking over from SM Krishna, who resigned on Friday.
Ashwani Kumar likely to law minister.
Jyotiraditya Scindia to get corporate affairs, and a move up to minister of state with independent charge.
Veerappa Moily to get Petroleum.
Shashi Tharoor will be as Minister of State, for what is still not known.
Pallam Raju, the next Minister for Human Resources Development.
Kapil Sibal: HRD, Telecom
Veerapa Moily: Power, Corporate Affairs
Salman Khurshid: Law & Justice, Minority Affairs
Anand Sharma: Commerce, Textiles
Vayalar Ravi: Overseas Affairs, Science and Technology, Micro small and Medium enterprises
Pawan Bansal: Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources CP Joshi: Railways, Road Transport and Highways
Why reshuffle? The reshuffle has been necessitated with six ministers of the Trinamool Congress quitting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the government last month. Ministers belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party (DMK) of Tamil Nadu had also left the cabinet, though the party continues to offer outside support to the UPA alliance.
With President Pranab Mukherjee accepting the resignations of seven Cabinet Ministers late on Saturday evening, the reshuffle is expected to see the induction of at least twelve ministers, most of them being younger in age.
There will be a conscious effort to ensure that cabinet has a younger profile.
Anand Sharma/Salman Khurshid: From Commerce Ministry to External Affairs Ministry. Undecided on who will finally get the ministry, but likely to go to Khurshid, despite his ink-for-blood rant.
Ghulam Nabi Azad: Fom Health to Petroleum Ministry
Jaipal Reddy: To be shifted to from Petroleum Ministry Human Resources Development Ministry.
Kapil Sibal: Telecom Ministry and Human Resources Development Ministry, likely to retain only telecom. Ministers with dual portfolios will retain only one.
Veerappa Moily: Corporate Affairs Minister and Power. May shed Power.
Sushil Kumar Shinde was moved to Home Ministry, and will retain the ministry.
NTRs daughter D Purandeswari: Ministry of Commerce portfolio
Harish Rawat: The Congress leader from Uttarakhand who had revolted against the partys decision to not make him Chief Minister in Uttarakhand could be elevated to Health Minister
Kamal Nath: Currently is Urban Development Minister and could be given additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
Pawan Kumar Bansal: Likely to give up Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and retain Water Resources Ministry. Or... may get rail ministry.
Manish Tewari: May get Ambika Soni's Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
Actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi: Minister for Tourism. Others who could see themselves elevated as minister.
Although the exercise will be marked by boost for law minister Salman Khurshid and urban development minister Kamal Nath, it is the elevation of Ajay Maken, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot that illustrates Congress's plan to showcase the latest ministerial rejig as the evidence of Rahul Gandhi's growing involvement in party affairs.
PK Bansal likely to get railways, while Salman Khurshid likely to get the external affairs ministry.
External affairs minister SM Krishna had resigned on Friday.
Cabinet ministers Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik and SK Sahai met PM Manmohan Singh and handed over their resignations.
Ministers of state Mahadev Khandela (tribal affairs), Agatha Sangma (rural development) and Vincent Pala (water resources and minority affairs) also quit on Saturday. Read more