BJP today alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rewarded the corrupt ministers with "promotions" in the reshuffle and shied away from giving Cabinet berths to the young leaders.

"Some new ministers have been inducted into the Manmohan Singh Cabinet in his last ditch but unsuccessful attempt to save his sinking ship. People had expected that he will try to wash away some of the taint but the tainted ministers enjoy his support while the clean ones have been ignored," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He maintained that the tainted ministers have been given a new life by Singh and the government is more tainted now than it was before the Cabinet reshuffle. Hussain said that the reshuffle seems to be part of the Congress' design to divert attention from the coal scam and other scandals.

"Though the BJP has never had any expectations from the UPA government, it has given promotions to those ministers who were facing allegations. It seems levelling of charges against a minister is not considered a negative point but is actually a plus," Hussain said.