Our sources in Delhi tell us that there was very thin attendance at today's Union Cabinet meeting, with only 11 out of 31 Union ministers in attendance. A minimum quorum needed to pass the resolution to probe the Amit Shah snooping tapes is 16.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was visibly upset with the poor turnout, but it is hardly surprising. Whenever important decisions are to be taken, Dr Singh has always got a rude shock by absent ministers. In this case, the end of the year holidays also ensured mass absence.

After the defeat in the four state assembly polls, senior union ministers have been busy visiting their parliamentary constituencies and holding public meetings.

And that's probably another reason for the absence: Congress ministers feel that instead of participating in cabinet meetings, it's better to be in touch with the voters.