Musical chairs

The musical chairs surrounding the newly sworn-in Council of Ministers just doesn’t seem to cease. Rashtrapati Bhavan announced yet another change of portfolio on Friday evening. S Jagathrakshakan, who was sworn in as minister of state (MoS) for new and renewable energy, has now been reassigned the commerce and industry ministry. Prior to that, MoS for Defence Lal Chand Kataria was directed to wait before assuming charge. Two days later, he was shifted to the rural development ministry. This was because another minister from Rajasthan, Jitendra Singh, had been appointed MoS for defence. That this game of musical chairs is certainly not over is evident from the fact that nobody else has been reassigned the new and renewable energy portfolio. Moreover, the power corridors are abuzz that current MoS, D Purandeswari, may be promoted to MoS (independent charge) in the textiles ministry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had undertaken a massive reshuffle of his Council of Ministers on October 28.