New Delhi: An expansion of the Union
Cabinet and reshuffle of the ministry and appointment of some
Governors and top bureaucrats in some of the key ministries
are expected to take place later this month.
Sources said the changes may take place once Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh undertakes the process of consultation
with Congress President Sonia Gandhi after her return from a
holiday this week-end.
The talk in ruling party circles is that the exercise
could take place later this month or early July, ahead of of
the monsoon session of Parliament.
The possibility of reshuffle has brightened after the
victory of Mamata Banerjee, who became the Chief Minister of
West Bengal, and resigned as Railway Minister at the Centre.
There is speculation that her party colleague Mukul Roy,
who has been given additional charge of Minister of State in
the Railway, will be elevated to the Cabinet rank in the
Railway ministry.
Ministers like Kapil Sibal are holding more than one
portfolio. While there are some vacancies including that
created by the resignation of A Raja in the wake of the 2G
spectrum scam and Prithviraj Chavan, who became Chief Minister
of Maharashtra.
There is also talk of appointment of Governors with some
incumbent holding the post in more than one state like
Rajasthan.
In Tamil Nadu, S S Barnala has far outlasted his tenure
as Governor of the state and the Centre may be looking at at a
new candidate.
In the bureaucracy, Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai is
retiring this month end while Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar
and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will retire next month.
PTI
