S M Krishna resigns ahead of Cabinet reshuffle

Krishna was appointed as the External Affairs minister immediately after UPA-II came into power

External Affairs minister SM Krishna resigned on Friday ahead of the all crucial Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday morning. This is being interpreted in political circles as an indication of change in Krishna’s role with the Cabinet rejig, and the possibility of his being sent to Karnataka ahead of the state elections next year. Some also that the probe ordered by the Karnataka Lokayukta against Krishna for irregularities in the Mysore Expressway during his tenure as chief minister, could also have precipitated the resignation.

It has now been confirmed the much awaited Cabinet reshuffle will take place on Sunday morning. Among the likely contenders for the MEA portfolio are I & B minister Ambika Soni and Commerce minister Anand Sharma.

Krishna was made the External Affairs Minister immediately after the elections in 2009 when UPA came back to power for the second time.

The reshuffle is likely to see the induction of new faces several of them likely to be Rahul Gandhi acolytes who could be either elevated to cabinet rank or become first time ministers.

Some of the names likely to make the cut are Jitin Prasad, Meenakshi Natarajan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Manish Tewari.

It is still unclear whether Congress scion Rahul Gandhi will join the Cabinet or keep himself to revamping the party organization.