Nine former CMs part of new Cabinet

Nine former chief ministers find a place in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 78-member Cabinet.

The former chief ministers represent five states -- Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Three former chief ministers of Maharashtra -- Sharad Pawar, Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh figure in the list of Cabinet ministers.

M Veerapa Moily and S M Krishna, former chief ministers of Karnataka have also been inducted in the Union Cabinet.

Krishna has been made the External Affairs Minister.

Shinde held Cabinet ministry for Power in the previous UPA government while Pawar has retained his Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolios.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Farooq Abdullah would also join the Cabinet along with A K Antony, former Kerala chief minister and present Defence Minister.

Abdullah, Deshmukh, Moily and Krishna have made their maiden entry in the Union Cabinet.

While Pawar, Shinde, Moily, Krishna, Azad and Antony have been sworn in on May 22, Abdullah, Deshmukh and Singh will take oath of office tomorrow.