PM, Sonia meet president; reshuffle in offing?

Oct 16, 2012 |

IANS

New Delhi

Tags:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi held separate meetings with President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, triggering fresh speculations about a cabinet reshuffle.

While the prime minister had an hour-long meeting with the president, Gandhi spent about 45 minutes with him, said government and party sources.

Though there was no official communication from Rashtrapati Bhavan on what transpired during the meetings, the sources said the two leaders discussed the current political situation with the first citizen.

Speculations about a cabinet reshuffle have been doing the rounds since the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress quit the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) last month leaving five posts of junior ministers vacant.

Slots vacated by DMK earlier are also to be filled up. Besides, ministers holding dual charge are also to be relieved.

Congress sources had hinted last month that the much awaited reshuffle could happen after Oct 15, after the end of the two-week-long shradh period considered inauspicious by Hindus.

The navratri period from Oct 16-23 is considered auspicious by the Hindus and could see changes in the government, said party sources.

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