Almost all new ministers 65-plus

A day after the Congress touted its most youthful team of office bearers with an average age of 52 years, the UPA-II Monday inducted eight new ministers, most of them in the 65-plus age group.

Of the new cabinet ministers, Sis Ram Ola is 86, Oscar Fernandes 72, Girija Vyas 66, and K.S. Rao 63, while of the ministers of state, Santosh Chowdhury is 69, Manik Rao Gavit 77, E.M.S. Natchiappan 65, and J.D. Seelam is the youngest at 59 years.

Taking over as head of Congress' communications department Monday, party general secretary Ajay Maken said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi had "together put together the most youthful team of office bearers.

"Rahul is a youth leader, his stamp is clearly visible. The average age of the AICCI is 52 years. Keeping the average of the youth of India, the fact is that an over 100 year party is having a 52 average age. The Congress arty effected the changes keeping the demographics of the country in mind," he said.

Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal reasoned the fresh cabinet inductions were done to gain from the experience of the leaders.

"The inductions were done by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to benefit from their experience in the election year. He had earlier inducted youngsters also," Afzal told IANS.