Vayalar Ravi dismisses Cabinet reshuffle report

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Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Tuesday rubbished media reports that he along with several other senior UPA ministers has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi willing to be relieved of their portfolios.

"I have never written any letter. Party made me the minister. At the meanwhile, whenever I am there, whenever I do the ministerial work, I have been entrusted with the party work also occasionally," said Ravi.

"Last year also, I have been sent to some states, I have been sent to different states many times. This time, I have been asked to look after the Andhra affairs because Ghulam Nabi could not go. So, I had to do some work," he added.

Several senior ministers of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Cabinet have reportedly written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, saying that they would like to be relieved of their portfolios and would like to work for the party.

Television channels have quoted sources, as saying that the ministers include Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Law and Justice and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

Though there is no confirmation from the Congress Party about a reshuffle or a reorganisation being in the offing, there is a possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle taking place after the budget session of parliament concludes in the third week of May.