A Cabinet reshuffle could take place either before June 15 or else be deferred to July, but ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, highly placed sources here indicated on Monday night.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given enough indications of undertaking the exercise. He told journalists in this regard, while responding to questions during his return from Africa the other day, “When I go back home, I will apply my mind.” Though it is unclear whether it will be a major reshuffle or a minor one, some Congress ministers are said to have expressed their willingness to work for the organisation.
According to sources, the railway ministry, currently with the Prime Minister after the West Bengal Assembly election, will get a full-fledged minister. “It will remain with the Trinamul Congress,” the sources said. Trinamul Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will now have to give a name to the PM in this regard. The railway ministry has three ministers of state: K.H. Muniappa, Bharatsinh Solanki (both Congress) and Mukul Roy (Trinamul Congress). Mr Roy, who is also MoS for shipping, could be elevated, they hinted. But the DMK is unlikely to get back the communications and information technology portfolio currently with HRD minister Kapil Sibal of the Congress.
The current strength of the Cabinet is 76, excluding the Prime Minister who is handling five portfolios — personnel, public grievances and pensions, planning, railways, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.
At least half-a-dozen Congress Union ministers have been holding more than one portfolio. They are Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Mr Kapil Sibal, Mr Salman Khurshid and Ms Selja.
It is not clear yet whether some of the governors will be brought back to active politics and inducted into the Cabinet.
There are some vacancies, including the one created by the resignation of Mr A. Raja in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam, and that created by Mr Prithviraj Chavan becoming Maharashtra chief minister. There has been no representation from the three states of Chhattisgarh, Goa and Manipur in the Union ministry.