After two years of coming into power for third consecutive time, chief minister Sheila Dikshit is all set to reshuffle her Cabinet on Wednesday. The chief minister reportedly took resignation letters from all the six ministers on Tuesday evening in the presence of Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. There are
hints of major change in portfolios of the ministers and even a couple of them being dropped to induct new faces. Sources said that Ms Dikshit was scheduled to meet Ms Gandhi late on Tuesday night to get final stamp of approval on reshuffle. The swearing-in is likely to take place at Raj Bhavan at about noon on Wednesday.
Speculation was rife that PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, industries and social welfare minister Mangat Ram Singhal were most likely to be dropped.
There were even rumours that either Delhi finance minister A.K. Walia or health minister Kiran Walia could also be dropped, while the fate of transport and education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely’s was also stated to be uncertain. Delhi Assembly Speaker Yoganand Shastri may make a comeback.
Among the likely new entrants are Patel Nagar MLA, Ramakant Goswami, Shahdara MLA, Narendra Nath, Sadar Bazar MLA, Rajesh Jain, and Vishwas Nagar MLA, Naseeb Singh, who is a dalit.
The reshuffle assumes significance as the city government is busy in budget-making. Even the CAG report on the Commonwealth Games spending by the Delhi government, which has criticised various departments for causing loss to the exchequer, is likely to be submitted this month.
Sources, however, said that it was not possible to replace Dr A.K. Walia, when he is tipped to present his seventh consecutive Budget next month and is a political heavyweight.
Mr Singhal might have to pay the price for poor mismanagement of canteen at Burari Congress convention and his performance issues.