Cabinet revamp: 10 new faces likely, juniors to be promoted

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Union Council of Ministers is setfor a major revamp on Sunday with at least 10 new faces likely to be inducted and some Ministers of State to be promoted besides a rejig in Cabinet portfolios wherein Anand Sharma may be made External Affairs Minister.

Ahead of the reshuffle, three Cabinet Ministers Ambika Soni (I&B), Mukul Wasnik (Social Justice) and Subodh Kant Sahai (Tourism) resigned on Saturday along with three Ministers of State Agatha Sangma (Rural Development), Mahadev Khandela (Tribal Affairs) and Vincent Pala (Water Resources), saying they would work for the party.

Interestingly, Agatha had to resign on her party NCP's directions after she campaigned for her father P. A. Sangma in the July Presidential elections in defiance of the party.

With this, the total number of ministers who have resigned has gone up to seven. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had quit on Friday. All the resignations have since been accepted.

The ceremony for swearing-in of new ministers is scheduled at 11.30 hours at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday when a number of new faces are likely to be inducted.

Rahul Gandhi, who was earlier speculated to be joining the government, is unlikely to do so. He may be in for a larger role in the party and could be made Working President.

59-year-old Sharma, who is tipped to move from Commerce to take the place of Krishna, has done a stint in the MEA as MoS in UPA one. As Congress leader he had campaigned against apartheid in South Africa.

His place in Commerce is all set to go to 53-year-old Purandeswari, daughter of the late N T Rama Rao, after her eight-year tenure in as MoS in HRD Ministry.