Despite the 'old wine in new bottle' comments all around, the Congress today hailed the reshuffle in the Union Cabinet as a "meaningful change" giving representation to both youth and experience and hoped it will further "improve" the functioning of the government.

"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.