A clean image and professional calibre could be the main criteria for induction into the Union Cabinet, which could be reshuffled any time after Makar Sankranti on January 14.
According to sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants it to be a small exercise confined to three-four ministers ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, but the Congress wants it to be a major exercise.
The criterion of a “clean image” has become necessary following the scams in 2G spectrum allocation, the Commonwealth Games, the Adarsh Housing Society and the disclosures in the Niira Radia tapes.
Re-allocation of portfolios could be more important than inductions in this proposed exercise, they said, adding that there could be reallocations in some of the top five ministries of home, finance, external affairs, HRD and defence.
Mr Kapil Sibal may not retain HRD after getting charge of the telecom ministry, they said, because ally DMK has not been insisting on retaining the ministry alloted to it in the power-sharing arrangement between the Congress and its partners in the UPA.
Besides, the PM would reallocate ministries on the basis of performance. If Congress insiders are to be believed, professionals like Mr Nandan Nilekani and Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia could also be inducted if he stresses on the need to have helping hands from non-political sectors.
Different dates for the reshuffle are being floated in political circles. They said it could be January 15, or January 17, after Republic Day.
Though Congress officials are tight-lipped on whether party general secretary Rahul Gandhi will join the Cabinet, sources said at least three Cabinet-rank ministers could be brought back into the AICC and two could be give new assignments. This means about half a dozen ministers could be dropped. They said the PM could confine the re-shuffle exercise only to the Congress.
Meanwhile, Congress insiders are clueless about the delay in reconstituting the working committee, central election committee and appointments of major PCCs.