Cabinet reshuffle likely on October 19
Several berths have been left vacant post the Trinamool Congress exit from the UPA
Speculation was rife in political circles over an imminent Cabinet reshuffle as both Prime Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi separately, met President Pranab Mukherjee.
With the President slated to leave for West Bengal on October 20 to attend the Durga Puja celebrations at his ancestral home, the reshuffle is likely to take place on October 19. Several berths have been left vacant post the Trinamool Congress exit from the UPA.
With the Congress led UPA facing flak over the past fortnight as Arvind Kejriwal carpet bombed it with scams ranging from Robert Vadra to Law minister Salman Khurshid, the reshuffle will hopefully divert attention from such events.
While the PM met the President for an hour before he left for Hyderabad on an official visit, Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with Mukherjee lasted for 40 minutes. According to Rashtrapati Bhavan sources she walked in unaccompanied at 5pm.
The inauspicious period as per the Hindu almanac concluded yesterday with the onset of the ‘Navratras’ and the timing is just right, for something as crucial as the Cabinet reshuffle said a party source.
Such a step will also help to alleviate the sense of uncertainty that seems to have crept in with the onslaught of scams, damaging the UPA’s public perception.
Prior to this there has been much speculation about Congress scion Rahul Gandhi and whether he would take a bigger role in the government and thereby take on a cabinet portfolio. Party sources could not confirm this but added that was already taking a bigger role in the organization.
A senior Cabinet minister speaking to Business Standard scotched any talk of ministers like Salman Khurshid who were in the news of late over controversies being dropped. “There is no reason for that, we have deftly dealt with the matter,” he added.
Crucial portfolios such as Railways are now as additional charge with CP Joshi, minister of Road Transport and Highways. This could be reallocated as is the case with Power ministry, which is in additional charge of Veerappa Moily.
President Pranab Mukherjee will be away from the capital from October 20th to October 23rd.